NON-INTERVENTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 December 1936, Page 5

NON-INTERVENTION

ANGER IN GERMANY COMPETENT QUARTERS ASTONISHED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 21st December, 11.30 a.m.) BERLIN, 20th December. Mr Eden’s speech has angered Germany. An official news agency declares: “It astonished competent quarters. It is incomprehensible that Mr Eden should have accused Germany and Italy of not observing the nonintervention pact in the same breath as he mentioned Russia.” (Mr Eden said: “Despite the fact that arms are going to Spain from Germany, Italy and Russia, the non-intervention pact has reduced the significance of these breaches.”) The “National Zeitung” says: “Germany long ago proposed a more effective formula, but Britain and France, which are so fond of speaking in the first person, turned it down.” The “Boersen Zeitung” regards Mr Eden’s omission of France from the list of interventionists' as “showing whither blind love can lead.” KEYSTONE OFBRITISHPOLICY THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR ONE COURSE OPEN (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, 19th December. Cqpimenting on Mr Anthony Eden’s speech in. the House of Commons, the “Telegraph” says: “Non-intervention remains the keystone of British policy in regard to the Spanish civil war. No other rational course is open to us. The British Government’s aim has been and is to make non-intervention as effective as possible. ‘lf the principal Powers are inearnest,’ said Mr Eden, ‘they could make it effective by quite a simple system of control. If they do not wish it to be effective it is beyond the wit of man to devise a really effective systein. That is the plain truth of the position.’ “Meanwhile the British _ and French Governments are not inactive in their efforts for mediation. If the military stalemate continues war weariness will assert itself the sooner, but the tempo of this murderous conflict cannot be regulated from London or from Paris. It depends on the combatants themselves and on those who persist in adding fuel to the flames.” SHELLS BOTH SIDES WELL ORGANISED MILITARY POSITIONS UNCHANGED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 21st December, 10.40 a.m.) MADRID, 20th December. The only echo of the Christmas truce suggestions is the thunder of rebel shells falling on the capital, while the defenders’ famous repeating gun retaliates, shelling rebel positions amid a burst of qnd rifle fire. Both sides are better organised than ever, and military position is unchanged, “despite sporadic successes on either side. A column of Irish volunteers for General Franco left Lisbon'for the front. The loyalists dubbed them “Irish Moors,” in contradistinction to the term “Blonde Moors,” which has been applied by the insurgents to the German auxiliaries.

RUSSIAN STEAMER SUNK “OUTRAGEOUS ACT OF PIRACY” THREAT OF REPRISALS (Received 21st December, 12.0 p.m.) MOSCOW, 20th December. The Soviet confirms a report of a Spanish rebel warship setting fire and sinking the Russian Shipping Trust’s steamer Komsomol, due at Gibraltar on 15th December with 6209 tons or iron ore consigned to a Belgian firm at Ghent. The sinking occurred between Oran and Cartagena on 14th December, The fate of the crew of thirty is unknown. The “Izvestia,” declaring that the Fascist rebels are playing with, fire, threatens reprisals for “this outrageous act of piracy.” :j V a POLAND BANS VOLUNTEERS FOR SPAIN LONDON, 19th December. Poland is the first country to ban volunteers for Spain. The Ambassador notified that Poland had decided to prohibit volunteers from serving on either side. The penalty will be loss of Polish nationality. NO BRITISH LEGISLATION “There is no question of legislation regarding volunteers from Britain. We are working for international action on the matter” said Mr Anthony Eden. PORT GIJON INCIDENT WASHINGTON, 18th December. The State Department has confirmed the report that a Spanish Fascist cruiser fired a shell which hit the water 500 yards from the American gunboat Erie, anchored in Port Gijon. There was no damage. No official action is contemplated. There is nothing to indicate that an attempt was made to hit the Erie.