SPANISH WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22615, 31 December 1936, Page 9

SPANISH WAR

FOREIGN TROOPS PROPOSAL TO BAN AID ANGLO-FRENCH NOTE REPLIES AWAITED MOKE DELAY LIKELY B.v lelegraph—Press Association—Copyright LOXDOX, Dec. 29 ' Italian and German replies to the Franco-British representations in regam to volunteers to Spain seem even less imminent,. It is now regarded as unlikely that they will he ready for another week when they are expected to be identical and to lie issued simultaneously. In the meantime the proposed American export of aeroplanes is regarded as an additional embarrassment to the Non-intervention Committee which, according to the Daily Telegraph's diplomatic correspondent, cannot deal with the matter since the United States is riot a member. GERMANY'S PLANS FRENCH PRESS SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES IN SPAIN PARIS. Dec. 29 The French newspapers take a gloomy view of the Spanish position. They agree that Herr Hitler is not likely to withdraw. •>A noted personality connected with a former ruling house, who has returned from the Nationalist lines, says he is cominced that Germany is planning directly to threaten France from the Pyrenees. Germany, says this informant, does not intend to send sufficient volunteers to enable General Franco to •■a.pture Madrid, but her aim is to support him sufficiently to prevent a decisive issue to the war. In the meanwhile, Germans would occupy a strip of territory from the Basque coast, on the Bay of Biscay, to the Mediterranean on the pretext of cutting off supplies from France. The presence of these troops would be sufficient to keep 300.000 French soldiers in the Pyrenees. In the event ot trouble elsewhere in Europe Germany could also bomb Southern France from Spanish bases. PALOS INCIDENT LIBERATION OF VESSEL THE CARGO CONFISCATED '■v BERLIN, Dec. 29 A Govexnment .communique states that the German freighter Palos, which was seiz<ed by the Spanish Government, •was set free on a demand from the German cruiser Koenigsberg. However, a Spanish citizen on board the vessel, and thus on German territory, has been detained, as well as part of the cargo. A complete settlement about the incident has still to be made. The Palos was allowed to depart from Bilbao after an exchange of messages between the Basque Government and the commander of the Koenigsberg. The latter agreed that the ship's cargo of field Wireless sets and cellulose for explosives should be confiscated. i BRITONS IN CAPITAL MEMBERS NOT LEAVING REMAIN AT OWN RISK LONDON, Dec. 29 The British Consulate in Madrid is being closed as well as the Embassy. Any British nationals \*ho remain will be responsible for their own safety. Only 477 of the 220 Britons in Madrid have so far notified their intention of leaving. Many are Spanish by adoption, and others represent important British industries and are determined to stay as a matter of duty. Those remaining urge that the British Vice-Consul, Mr. John Milanes, should be allowed to stay in Madrid as protector of their interests and of British property. EMBASSY COUNSELLOR COURAGE APPLAUDED LIFE RISKED FOR DUTY British Wireless RUGBY, Dec. 29 The announcement that Mr. OgilvieForbes, Counsellor, had been instructed to close the British Embassy in Madrid and withdraw the staff and the remaining British subjects to Valencia, is approved by the press. High praise is given to Mr. Ogilvie-Forbes for the courage and firmness with which: ho has acted,in recent weeks.

The News Chronicle says the energy with which Mr. Ogilvie-Forbes has done what was possible with the resources at his disposal to protect unfortunate refugees in Madrid has certainly helped to maintain Britain's prestige in Spain. The' Manchester Guardian says Mr. Ogilvie-Forbes stayed on at the risk of his life long aft<?r thousands of Spanish civilians had left the city. MADRID FRONT QUIET RAIN STOPS FIGHTING MADRID, Drr. 21) Haiii has stopped military action on the Madrid front. Jt is claimed that Government forces have advanced in Asturias.