Britain Asks France To Stay Hand in Threatened Crisis

Northern Advocate, 25 January 1939, Page 7

Britain Asks France To Stay Hand in Threatened Crisis

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

LONDON, January 24.

SUDDEN SUCCESS OF GENERAL FRANCO’S DRIVE TO BARCE-

LONA HAS RESULTED IN A MARKED HEIGHTENING OF THE EUROPEAN TENSION, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. IT IS LEARNED THAT BRITAIN ENDEAVOURED TO PERSUADE M. BONNET; THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, TO DELAY THE SPEECH HE INTENDED MAKING TONIGHT.

It is believed that M. Bonnet is likely to agree to withhold the speech for two days. It is expected to have a most important influence on the threatened crisis. ........ ..... French and British Socialists are combining to exert the utmost pressure for assistance for the Government of Spain, It is considered most undesirable that M. Bonnet should commit France to any policy before the position of Ba rcelona is clarified. It is learned that .suggestions that France may seize Minorca if the Italians do not retire from Spain are merely idle gossip. The question of Minorca’s future was raised by the French during the recent Anglo-French talk. •

Military Chiefs Stay Home.

Significantly, the chief of the French general staff, General Gamelin, and the chief of the naval staff, Vice Admiral Darlan, have postponed then* tour of France’s North African defences and remained in Paris to watch the Spanish situation, says a message from Paris.

The French general staff has presented to the Prime Minister, M. Daladier, a plan for the seizure of Minorca and Spanish Morocco if Signor Mussolini does not quit Spain immediately the war ends.

Seizure of Spanish Territory?

The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Express” points out that positions on the Spanish mainland such as Cartagena and Alicante could also be occupied. Minorca could be taken over without trouble, as the Government would certainly rather hand the island over to France than to General Franco. The Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, is expected to define France’s attitude when replying tonight to the foreign affairs debate in the Chamber. To Justify Imperialism. France is unanimous, says a message from Paris, in assuming that' the attacks by the Italian press are not based on an honest desire to discuss legitimate claims, but represent an artificial campaign to justify Italy’s imperialistic pretensions. Commentators recall the parallel German press abuse against the Czechs until Herr Hitler showed his hand. Almost the whole of the French press envisages the possibility of difficulty arising, necessitating the postponement of the carrying out of Signor Mussolini’s promise to Mr Chamberlain to withdraw from Spain after General Franco’s victory.