Britain Will Keep Out of Spain

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 65, 18 March 1938, Page 7

Britain Will Keep Out of Spain

Situation is “ Too Grave For Labour Reproaches ” ANXIETY IN FRANCE United Press Association—By EUectrlo Telegraph.—Copyright. * LONDON, March 16. In the House of Oomomus, iv* . C. R. Attlee, Leader of the Opposit’on, move ! the adjournment. He drew attention to | the lack of Ministerial policy to counter tho grave menace to British interests and security arising from foreign inter- 1 vention in Spain. If Mr. Chamberlain j believed it possible to get peace by, agreements with Herr Hitler and Sig- J nor Mussolini based on reliance on their pledges, he had a rude awakening coming to him. “While Mr. Chamberlain was talking peace to Herr von Ribbentrop, the Germans invaded Austria; while the AngloItalian conversations were proceeding Signor Mussolini and his allies are t ying to consummate the conquest of Spain,” Mr. Attlee declared. “Although Mr. Chamberlain has made settlement of the Spanish question a condition of any Anglo-Italian agreement, does anyone doubt that Horr Hitler’s asistance in Spain is part of the price of Signor Mussolini’s betrayal of Austria ? ’ ’ Mr. Chamberlain replied that the situation was too grave for reproaches or accusations across the floor of the House. The intervention of certain Powers was no new thing; it could not be said that General Franco’s new advance was due to an 'accession of fresh forces or munitions. “I have no definite information regarding any such fresh accession,” he added. “The British Government has never taken the Opposition’s view that victory for General Franco would mean that Spain would pass into the control of Italy and Germany,’ ’Mr. Chamberlain said. “We intend to continue to keep in close touch with Fance. I believe we shall best serve the cause of peace and freedom if we keep out of Spain, and maintain our policy of nonintervention and do not attempt to burn our fingers as other nations may well do.” Overtures From France Mr. Attlee asked Mr. Chamberlain whether he had received any representations from the French Government about the latest position in Spain, and if he had a statement to make, reports a supplementary British Official Wireless message. The Prime Minister said that his Majesty’s Ambassador in Paris had received from the French Government an indication of the anxiety with which it viewed the present Spani military situation. His Majesty’s Government was fully alive to the importance of recent developments and was keeping in close touch with the French Government. Mr. Attlee then askecl whether the Prime Minister would confer with the French Government with a view to restoring to the Spanish Government its right to receive arms and assistance. The Prime Minister repeated that they were keeping in close touch with the French Government. Mr. Attlee then asked whether the Prime Minister had considered any action in view of the continued breach of the non-intervention agreement. He recalled Mr. Chamberlain’s statement when informing the House of Commons of the conversations with Italy that any further activity or change in the Spanish military situation would necessarily affect the continuance of the British conversations with Italy and the whole situation. No New Intervention Mr. Chamberlain said that the recent developments appeared to have taken place with men, arms and equipment, which were already in Spain. Mr. Attlee then sought to move tho adjournment to call attention to the lack of any ministerial policy to count - the grave menace to British interests rising out of armed intervention in Spain by certain Powers. When the Speaker asked whether Mr. Attlee had the leave of the House, all Liberal and Labour members rose, an l, 1 their number being considerably more than the 40 required, assent was given. Mr. Attlee concluded by giving the Government what he described as a warning. He said the Government was seeking the helpers of the workers in rearmament, but it could not go before them if it betrayed them. The British people would not stand by a craven government. Mr. Chamberlain referred to the rumours of additions to tho foreign forces on both sides in Spain and said: “Our policy has been non-intervention. It would be ridiculous to pretend there has not been intervention since the policy was adopted, but I assert that tlio policy has restricted intervention which otherwise would have occurred on u far greater scale. Secondly, our policy has averted an international war, first of all carried on on Spanish soil and afterwards probably spreading beyond. The fact of the war being confined to Spanish territory and for the most part to the Spanish people is a tribute to the success of the British policy of non-intervention. The Opposition assumes that success for Franco means the handing over of Spain to what Mr. Attlee calls the Fascist Powers. He assumes that victory means that Spain will pass under the complete control of Italy and Germany and that it has been tho intention of Italy and Germany all along. The British Government has never taken that view and does not take it to-day. We intend to continue in the future as we have done in the past—in close touch with the French Government. Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal) begged tho Government to give an assurance that Britain would stand by France as far as she wished to go. The back-benchers continued the debate. Sir John Simon, replying for the Government, said: “The British policy regarding the Spanish war is definite. Wc will not intervene and endeavour to

j Rebel Advance Slows Down VETERAN TROOPS THROWN INTO ACTION DESPERATE EFFORT TO HALT ATTACK Received Thursday’, 7.5 p.m. LONDON, March 16. The Times’ Barcelona correspondent says the nationalists’ advance has slowed down during the last 24 hours in j Aragon. Both sides admit fierce fighting in the Caspe and Mont Alban areas, indicating that the Republicans are resisting more vigorously', j The latest Government communique I tells of almost superhuman resistance jin tho face of the insurgents’ artillery and air attacks. A Saragossa message say's it is claimed that the Nationalists throughout the Aragon offensive have taken over 30,000 prisoners, nine batterios of artillery, over 1000 motor cars, 2000 machine guns, 23 tanks, and brought down 21 ’planes. The Catalan Government declares that the battle is still beyond the Catalan frontier, despite General Franco’s effort made with the aid of huge foreign contingents. Tho Daily Telegraph’s Paris correspondent says the Spanish News Agency quotes an Italian airman, Mario M«nervi, who was brought down, as stating that 700 Italian and German 'planes, mostly piloted by Italians and Germans, are engaged on the Aragon front. A St. Jean de Luz dispatch says the allegation that 30,000 German Storm Troops are en route to Spain angered the Nationalists. A high official on General Franco’s staff declares this is a cock-and-bull story directly related to Senor Negrin’s dash to Paris and coinciding with M. Blum’s return to power. Senor Negrin is making a desperate effort to persuade tho French Government to send 50,000 Communist volunteers to Spain. Veteran troops have been sent from Madrid to resist General Franco’s sweep towards the sea, and they are responsible for the stronger resistance, says the Barcelona correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. Units of the International Brigade are hastening to Ara gon. Although the insurgent attacks were repulsed yesterday, there is an urgent need for further efforts to prevent Republican Spain being cut in halves. Catalonia is also sending guns and roserve divisions.

The Italian Embassy in London denies the departure of volunteers to Spain, adding: “None have been sent recently and there is no intention of sending any. On the contrary, the number in Spain has been decreased owing to departures to Italy for various reasons.” Barcelona Again Bombed. Insurgent warplanes twice bombed the centre of Barcelona just before midnight. A number of apartment houses were hit and the casualties are believed to be high. A later Barcelona message says insurgent warplanes began bombing Barcelona at 10 o’clock last night. The raids were still continuing at 2.30 this morning. The centre of the city has been repeatedly hit and many buildings shattered, huge columns of smoke rising and obscuring the moon. The casualties are believed to be extremely heavy. It is authoritatively denied that disorders are occurring in the city. Night of Horrors for Barcelona FRANCO ATTEMPTS TO BREAK MORALE Received Friday, 2 a.m. BARCELONA, March 17. Barcelona was bombed continuI ously from 2 a.m. till daybreak. • Wave after wave of Franco’s aeroI planes flew over the city, leaving a 1 trail of death and destruction. It I was a night of horror for the in- | habitants unrelieved when the sun shone, but the sun shone out 1 brightly as further ’planes appeared at 8 o’clock. Franco’B object appears to be to break the morale of the civil population by not allowing them a moment’s respite from anxiety. Many took refuge all night in the underground shelters. MUNITIONS FOR LOYALISTS Received Thursday, 8.25 p m. LONDON, March 17. Lines of ten-wheeler motor lorries closely covered with tarpaulins and nearly all containing munitions and guns are seen on the roads leading to Spain, says the Perpignan correspondent of the Daily Mail. Their passage does not technically infringe non-intervention, as ail are supposed to bo intransit from other countries. An enormous number arrived from Russia on neutral ships. dissuade others from intervening. it is impossible to change that policy according to the changing fortunes of war. It is unreasonable to describe it as handing over Spain to the Fascist Powers. ”

A scene occurred when Sir John Simon, recalling Mr. Greenwood, said the Opposition had never asked that Britain should go into Spain. He commented that this represented a complete change from the position that had been taken up. Mr. Attlee challenged Sir John Simon, and demanded evidence that the Opposition had never demanded that Britain should go into Spain. Sir John ...mi said it was obvioue that opposition to the policy of nonintervention meant a policy of intervening. He denied that any Note had been received from the French Government asking Britain to take some action in Spain. Mr. Attlee’s motion for an adjournment was defeated by 317 to 141.