SPANISH CONFLICT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 16 November 1937, Page 5

SPANISH CONFLICT

RESTORATION OF MONARCHY PLANNED BY GENERAL FRANCO ASSURANCE OF BRITISH SUPPORT DUKE OF ALBA IN LONDON [United Press Association—By Electrio Tologra ph -Copy rlgatl LONDON. 15th November. The "Daily Herald’s” diplomatic correspondent says General Franco’s agent, the Duke of Alba, will discuss immediately with (he Foreign Office the restoration of the Spanish Monarchy with Don Juan, ex-King Alfonso’s youngest surviving son, as "peacemaking King." The Duke, who has influential friends in London, assured General Franco that if he offered (lie restoration of the Monarchy in addition to the withdrawal of volunteers he would get the strongest diplomatic support from Britain. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Paris correspondent says there is considerable activity among the Spanish Monarchists in France. A plan has been prepared to place Don Juan on the throne. The "Daily Sketch’s” diplomatic correspondent says that despite denials it is reliably reported that Scnor Negrin, the Republic Prime Minister, is going to London to negotiate a truce and its terms. General Franco’s officers met Government representatives at a wayside restaurant at Hendayc to discuss an armistice. A message from Barcelona says that the Press Bureau admits that Scnor Negrin has left Barcelona, but says that reports that lie has gone to London are false. Don Juan, Prince of the Asturias and heir presumptive to the Spanish throne by virtue of its renunciation by his two elder brothers, was born in 1913. In 1935 he married at Rome Princess Maric-Merccdes and has one child, the Infanta Maria Del Pilar, born in 1936. INSURGENTS’ AGENTS DEPARTURE FOR LONDON LONDON, 14th November. The agents to represent the insurgents in England left for London with documents for General Franco’s chief agent, the Duke of Alba, enabling him to inform the British Government cf the insurgents’ attitude to the proposed withdrawal of volunteers. It is added that General Franco will afford all facilities to the British Government in connection with plans to end the Spanish war.

BELLIGERENT RIGHTS REPORT FROM BRUSSELS LONDON, 13th November. Reports are circulating at the Brussels Conference that Britain, France, and Russia have agreed to the principle of granting belligerent rights when 70 per cent, of the volunteers an each side are withdrawn from Spain. DEFENCE OF MADRID FIGHTING SPEECH BY PRESIDENT MADRID, 13th November. President Azana, on arriving from Barcelona accompanied by the Prime Minister, Scnor Negrin, and members of the Cabinet, delivered a fighting speech deprecating reports that a big foreign army was assisting on the Madrid front which had alone prevented the capital surrendering. He added, “Her own children are defending Madrid, and they will rather fight than fall to tyranny.” WITHDRAWAL OF VOLUNTEERS PROPOSALS OF NON-INTERVEN-TION COMMITTEE NO REPLIES FROM EITHER SIDE (Received 16th November, 10.38 a.m.) RUGBY, 18th November. No replies have yet been recevied from either side in Spain regarding the proposals of the Ncn-Intervcntion Committee on the withdrawal of volunteers. The chairman’s sub-committee meets to-morrow to receive the report of the technical experts.

PITCHED BATTLE

RIOTING AT TETUAN GUARDS FIRE ON MOORS (Received 16th November, 9.0 a.m. GIBRALTAR, 15th November. Rioting at Tetuan culminated in a pitched battle when the demonstrators fought back against the fire of the Spanish guards. Many Moorish guardsmen joined the rioters in firing on the Spaniards. Sixty Moors and 20 Spaniards were killed and scores wounded. Frontier guards stopped European residents fleeing to Tangier. The fighting began when guards at the Spanish Commissioner’s office at Tetuan fired on a crowd of elderly Moors, and women and children carrying placards opposing the sending of young Moors to Spain because so many had gone under broken promises and many had not returned. Several were killed and 50 arrested. The ring leaders were shot. Skirmishes occurred throughout the d°y between armed tribesmen entering from the desert and phalangists patrolling the streets with machine-guns. Frontier guards slopped European residents fleeing to Tangier.