NON-INTERVENTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 9 October 1936, Page 5

NON-INTERVENTION

THREAT BY RUSSIA TO WITHDRAW VIOLATION OF PACT ALLEGED ITALY, GERMANY AND PORTUGAL ACCUSED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 9th October, 1.40 a.m.) LONDON, Bth October. It is stated that Russia will leave the non-intervention committee unless the violations by Portugal, Italy and Germany cease. The Russian Note threatening to withdraw from the Spanish Non-In-tervention Pact, if immediate measures were not taken to prevent its violation, was delivered by M. Kagan, Soviet Charge d’Affaires in London, to the London Committee, which will consider it to-morrow. The Note specifically accused Italy, Germany and Portugal of supplying war material to the insurgents, thereby making the Non-Intervention Agreement practically non-existent. It adds that the Soviet Government can in no circumstances agree to transform the Non-Intervention Agreement into a screen sheltering military aid to the insurgents by other parties to the agreement against the lawful Spanish Government. The Soviet Government is therefore compelled to declare, if violation of the agreement is not immediately discontinued, that it will consider itself released from all obligations under it. The "News-Chronicle” says Russia’s move is more drastic than was expected. The German, Italian, and Portuguese representatives on the London Committee will probably demand time to communicate with their Governments, but it is stated that the Soviet will not tolerate delaying tactics. It is even asserted that she may follow up her decision without delay by coming out openly to support the Madrid Government. NOTIFICATION TO BRITAIN

The Foreign Office received notification of the Russian attitude regarding the Non-Intervention Committee on the iines cabled from Moscow. DENIAL BY ITALY A Rome message states • that the Soviet’s move is described as unjustifiable as far as Italy is concerned, as there lias been no violation since the embargo decree. It is suggested that the Soviet is beginning to doubt the success of the Red cause on which it counted. “ANTI-FASCIST OFFENSIVE” (Received !)th October. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Bth October. “The Times” Rome correspondent says that while official quarters are silent, the press publishes messages from London correspondents characterising the Soviet Note as an antiFascist offensive.

EUROPEAN DIFFICULTIES

INTENSIFIED BY NOTE GERMAN AND FRENCH COMMENT (Received 9th October, 10.0 a.m.) LONDON, Bth October. The Russian note has intensified European difficulties. Italian and German quarters interpret it as an indication that Moscow fears that the Spanish Government is in a precarious situation, and is seeking an excuse to assist it. Official circles in Berlin regard the note as confirming the German view that the Soviet aims at provoking a European conflict in order to Bolshevise Europe. In Paris the opinion is to the effect that it must increase the tension and may endanger M. Blum’s Government, owing to the possibility of splitting the Popular Front. Madrid gleefully received the news, declaring that most of the war planes the insurgents used in the capture of Santa Cruz and Deretamar were German, having swastikas on the wings. v

RUSSIAN COMMENT

SPECULATION AROUSED QUESTION AS TO PROCEDURE (British Official Wireless) (Received 9th October, 12.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Bth October. Some speculation has been aroused by the terms of Russian comment on the alleged supply of arms to Spanish insurgents by Germany, Italy and Portugal, in view of the fact that, so long ago as 21st September the International Committee agreed upon the procedure to be followed in respect to alleged breaches of the agreement and affirmed the principle that it would be the duty of the Committee to examine such allegations with a view of ascertaining the facts. Complaints had to be submitted by the Government party to the agreement which had convinced itself that they were founded on evidence of sufficient weight. The Russian Government, if it has satisfied itself of the trustworthiness of the complaints it is now sponsoring, is therefore acting in full accord with the intention of the Committee; but among those who have most closely followed the International Committee’s work it is recalled that at the first meeting it was agreed that its proceedings should be treated as strictly confidential, subject to the issue of an agreed communique at the conclusion of each meeting.

LABOUR DELEGATION

INTERVIEW WITH MR CHAMBERLAIN

DANGERS IF SITUATION NOT

CLARIFIED

(Received 9th October, 10.0 a.m.) LONDON, Bth October.

Mr C. R. Attlee and Mr Arthur Greenwood arrived at London from Edinburgh and had a 45 minutes’ interval with Mr Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, presenting evidence concerning the alleged supply of munitions to the Spanish insurgents from Germany, Italy and Portugal. They will hasten to return to Edinburgh to report to the Labour Executive, resulting in the possibility of an emergency resolution being submitted to-morrow to the conference, which is at present pledged to support non-intervention. The Treasury issued a statement as follows: “Mr Chamberlain assured Mr

Attlee and Mr Greenwood that the British representatives on the NonIntervention Committee are fully conscious of the dangers which will be incurred if the situation is not clarified without delay.”

UNITED STATES CONSUL ASSISTED

NOTE OF THANKS TO BRITAIN (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, 7th October. The United States Ambassador in London delivered a Note expressing the thanks of his Government for assistance rendered by the British Government to the United States Consul at Vigo and his family during the recent disturbances in Spain, and the British Minister in Caracas received a Note from the Venezuelan Foreign Minister expressing the gratitude of his Government for assistance rendered to Venezuelan nationals in Spain.

BATTLE FOR MADRID

STRENGTH OF OPPOSING FORCES SIX REBEL ARMIES CONVERGING LONDON, 7th October. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Talavera correspondent says that General Franco, who has six armies converging on Madrid, intends to leave open one way of escape from the capital to Valencia. Most of the insurgent officers have families in Madrid, and therefore wish to spare them if it is possible. General Franco’s forces now total 150,000, compared with the Government’s 80,000, but the latter occupy a strong defensive position and are well supplied with artillery and ammunition.

The battle for the capital may last a month.

INSURGENTS PRESSING ON

CAPTURE OF ESCALONA GOVERNMENT FORCES ABANDON NAVALPERAL OVIEDO STILL HOLDING OUT (Received 9th October, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, Bth October.

Though there is no spectacular movements at present, the insurgents are pressing on strategically with a view to a final onslaught on Madrid. The insurgents claim to be 25 miles from Madrid on the northern front, 35 miles on the western front, and 34 on the southern front. The rebels to-day captured Escalona, on the Avila-Maqueda road, and claim to have inflected heavy casualties.

Another important development is the abandonment by the Government forces of Navalperal during the night owing to food supplies being exhausted and lack of ammunition. The insurgents claim to be within six miles of Balboa. They alleged that 150 Hostages were shot despite the presence of officials of the International Red Cross. Oviedo still holds out, but Madrid claims that sixty of the diminished garrison have already surrendered.

AUCKLAND TRADES UNIONS

SYMPATHY WITH GOVERNMENT

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Bth October

Active interest in the Spanish civil war is being taken by a number of Auckland trades unions and in the last few days several have decided either to send gifts of money to the Government party or to urge the New Zealand Government to intervene with Great Britain on behalf of the loyalists. Donations are being forwarded through the New Zealand Council for the war against Fascism. It was stated by a trades union secretary that the unions regarded the Spanish Government as a Labour Government and were prepared to give it every support against the Fascist forces seeking to overcome it.