PRISONERS AND HOSTAGES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 2 April 1938, Page 7

PRISONERS AND HOSTAGES

BRITISH PLAN FOR ASSISTING EXCHANGE ACCEPTED BY GENERAL FRANCO I British Official Wirelessl (Received 2nd April, 10.37 a.m.) RUGBY. Ist April. Field-Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode will set out within the next week or so as head of a mission of three British subjects to supervise arrangements in connection with the British plan for assisting the exchange of prisoners, hostages and other persons detained by the two parties in the Spanish civil war. When the plan is in operation Field-Marshal Chetwode’s headquarters will be established at Toulouse, with one assistant al Burgos and the other at Barcelona. Field-Marshal Chetwode would exercise the functions of an arbitrator under the scheme. It is understood the scheme has been accepted by General Franco. There has been some hesitation from the Spanish Government side, but early acceptance is confidently hoped for. It is intended that a start should be made in arranging for the exchange of 2000 prisoners held by the Government forces for an equivalent number of Basques, who, it has been represented, are in great personal danger. This would be followed by exchanges which affect some thousands of persons at present detained. The cost to be incurred by the commission will be borne exclusively by the British Government as a humanitarian contribution towards alleviating hardships arising out of the Spanish war.