ACTION BY SPAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 25 June 1945, Page 2

ACTION BY SPAIN

CLOSING OF FRONTIER SERIOUS EFFECT ON FRANCE S FOOD SUPPLIES London, June 23 According to official circles the French Government, following the closure of the French-Spanish frontier, is seriously considering the recent recommendation by the Foreign Affairs Committee that France break off relations with Spain, says Reuter's Paris correspondent Half a million Spanish troops in the Pyrenees are holding up all transport to France following Spain’s severance of commercial relations with France, says the "Evening Standard's" Madrid correspondent Only travellers with very high credentials are allowed to cross the frontier The closure will have a grave effect on France, which since last August has received large supplies of food from Spain. Spain j will not sell further supplies until j France establishes financial standing. The order not only stops large exports of fruit, dairy products, oil and rice, but also ends an extensive exchange of products between border villages. High Spanish officials deny the action is any way connected with the Chamber;/ incident.

MADRID EXPLANATION It is officially stated that food exports to France were stopped because tile credits with which Spain financed them had fallen due. for which reason the situation must be settled. “It is not exact to say the front tr is closed. Spain has taken purely economic measures to place French and Spanish relations within the sphere of realities.