Overtures Without Approval

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 41, 18 February 1939, Page 5

Overtures Without Approval

Reported Action of Spanish President

PREMIER NOT CONSULTED I United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—-Copyright. Received Friday, 9.25 p.m. PARIS, Feb. 17. Senor Azana, Republican President of Spain, is reported to havo initiated peace discussions without tho Premier, Dr. Ncgrin’s, approval. They are based on:— (J) Evacuation of foreign combatants. (2) No reprisals. (3) Ending of all foreign influence once Spaniards have settled their own affairs. Well informed circles believe that, if General Franco accepts, an immediate armistice is possible. DELAYING RECOGNITION PROFESSORS’ PROTEST LONDON, Feb. 16. Forty-two Oxford professors and tutors have telegraphed tho Foreign Alinister, Lord Halifax, urging that Britain should not recognise General Franco wliilo the Government holds territory and Italian and German troops remain in Spain. The Evening Standard saj's that England and France are delaying recognition of General Franco in the hope that Dr. Azana, President of Republican Spain, will issue a proclamation to the Republic announcing tho end of resistance and advising surrender to General Franco. FOOD IN CONQUERED AREAS COMMISSION AT WORK (British Official Wireless) Received Friday, 7.5 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 16. The food situation in territories recently occupied by tho Spanish Nationalists is under constant consideration. by tho International Commission for Spanish Child Refugees, and the chairman of the Commission, Judge Hansen, of Norway, and the Food Controller for Spain, Air. Kershaw, of the United States, have gone to Burgos to discuss tho provision of supplies with tho Nationalist authorities. They will also meet the Infdnta Featrice, who is prominently connected with tho Nationalist Spain relief organisation.

The Commission lias just arranged for some 200 tons of condonscd milk to bo sent to Barcelona. ITALIANS IN SPAIN NO WITHDRAWAL TILL TASK IS FINISHED RUME, Fob. 16. The publication Int'ormazione Diplomatica says that the Italian lcgionnaries will not return from Spain until General Franco announces that their task is finished. It adds that the British and French procedure in recognising General Franco, ranging from flattery to throats shows the democracies’ mental confusion, if not their ignorance of Spanish psychology. “It is Italy’s way to march with a friend to the end, no matter what happens. We do not believe that comradeship formed on the battlefields on land and in the air are destined to dissolve without trace,” declares the journal. MADRID SHELLED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT MADRID, Feb. 16. Tho Nationalists shelled tho city every quarter of an hour all night forcing the inhabitants to remain in shelters. Six were killed and 20 wounded. At the height of the bombardment, 150 shells fell every hour. 1