GRAVE FEARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22498, 15 August 1936, Page 13

GRAVE FEARS

PEACE OF EUROPE CONFLICT IN SPAIN NEUTRALITY SCHEME ITALO-GERMAN DELAY M. BLUM IN QUANDARY Telegraph Press Association—Copyright (Received August 11, 8.15 p . m ) LONDON, August 14 Neither Italy nor Germany has replied yet to the French Government's appeal for non-intervention in Spain's civil war, and the delay is causing grave anxiety in London, says the diplomatic correspondent of (he Morning Post. It is seriously feared that if the negotiations fail the French Prime Minister, M. Blum, will not be able to resist the pressure from his own supporters and will be forced either to sanction aid for the Spanish Government or to resign in favour of a more extreme Ministry. The last hope for a non-intervention policy would then vanish and Spain would openly become a battlefield of rival Kuropcan policies. The British Government is doing its utmost to avoid such a development. French Patience Strained The Berlin correspondent of the Times savs it seems clear that the German attitude' regarding non-intervention has stiffened, partly owing to reports of French assistance to the Madrid Government. and also because apparentlv there is little-confidence in Berlin in the sincerity of the French proposals. The Paris correspondent of the Times says that though the French Cabinet yesterday decided to continue its efforts for a non-intervention pact, there was also general agreement that France cannot continue indefinitely her present self-denying ordinance, regardless of the attitude of others. If. for example, it is established that delaying tactics, and not honest objections. are holding up an agreement, the French Government certainly will resume liberty of action. Motive of Rome and Berlin Moreover, any substantial additions to the already material assistance received from abroad bv the insurgents might have the same effect. The diplomatic correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says the impression is becoming deeper in London that both Italy and Germany are holding up non-intervention while aiding the rebels in the hope that they will be able to win decisive victories in the near future.

HELP FOR REBELS ITALIANS AND GERMANS FRENCH PROPOSAL AFFECTED LONDON, August 13 Fresh difficulties in the way of the neutrality negotiations are likely to result from the reported activities of German airmen, 20 of whom have just arrived at Tetuan, Spanish Morocco. Sir Percival Phillips, the Daily Telegraph's special correspondent, quoting what he believes to be a most trustworthy source, says that the leader of the rebels. General Franco, now has 20 Junker transport aeroplanes, five German pursuit machines, the original markings of which were erased with black paint, and seven Caproni bombers, which the Italians used with such deadlv effect in Abyssinia.

It is also significant that 60 Germans and 12 Italians are at present at Seville. Sir Phillip's informant, who has just returned from Seville, said he saw a German expert training General Franco's gunners in the use of the latest type of German aircraft guns, of which six were recently delivered. Intensive training of air recruits continues day ami night. A message from Berlin says the spokesman for the Ministry of Propaganda, commenting; on reports that the German Consulate at Seville had admitted that pilots for General Franco's aeroplanes were German military airmen. declares: "We know nothing about this, but it appears to be without foundation." Heports from Paris state that the activities of Italy and Germany are making it difficult for the Prime Minister, M. Blum, to secure the support of his own followers for his neutrality efforts. Many members of the Popular Front 'consider it intolerable that the rebels should be supplied by Italy and Germany with arms while the legal Government is subjected to a kind of sanctions regime.

French circles are hopefid of a compromise, but M, Delbos, Foreign Minister, told the Cabinet that a delicate situation had been created by the enlistment of natives from French Morocco in response to offers by the insurgents of attractive pay and bonuses. The Cabinet decided to stop this recruitment. Messages from Rome indicate an insistence upon a ban on subscriptions for volunteers.

BERLIN'S ATTITUDE DETAINED AEROPLANE DEMAND FOR RELEASE Times Cable LONDON. August 13 i The Paris correspondent of the Times "a.Vs Germany's reply to France's neutrality proposals has boon received. It accepts the plan, but Germany's adhesion will not become effective until the Spanish Government has released a German bombing aeroplane and its occupants which landed earlier in the w eok at Azurga, in the province of Badajoz, and was almost certainly hound for insurgent territory. Government is holding an inquiry. I'rance is pressing for the handing over of the machine without delay in the interests of European peace. FRENCH SOCIALISTS SUPPORT FOR LOYALISTS FARIS, August 13 -lhe Popular Front (Socialist) parties have agreed to call a conference to confiitler united international action by Labour in support of the Spanish Government.