FOREIGN TROOPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22617, 4 January 1937, Page 9

FOREIGN TROOPS

AID TO COMBATANTS HERR HITLER'S DILEMMA REBELS* NEED OF HELP By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright LONDON. .Tan. 1 The diplomatic correspondent of the Morning Post states that Herr Hitler is in a serious dilemma in respect to Spain. If he sends no further support to the rebel leader, General Franco, there will be serious danger of the latter's defeat. The insurgent troops are believed to number less than 30,000. The Foreign Legion has lost many officers, and the rest of General Franco's armies have taken little part in the fighting. Many of the rebel troops are workers whoso sympathies are with the Government, hut they joined General Franco's forces as the safest, place from reprisals. This probably explains the effective espionage which lias censed many ot General Franco's plans to fail. The German expeditionary force numbers from (iOOO to 10.000, and the Italians considerably less. General Franco's combined forces are probably outnumbered by the Government troops supported by French and Russian volunteers. It is becoming clearer every day that the Powers are simply playing for position for the great war which Germany believes to be inevitable. Germany not only seeks to threaten France's Pyreneean frontier, but to establish submarine and other bases in Morocco and the Canary Islands. Such bases would threaten the French colonies in Africa. Germany also desires access to raw materials in Spain and in North Africa. The German Foreign Minister. Baron von Neurath. is understood to have informed Sir Krie Phipps. British Ambassador, that Germany is prepared to stop volunteers going to Spain if other countries agree to stop all assistance.

NEUTRALITY SCHEME ATTITUDE OF ITALY CONDITIONS DEMANDED LONDON, Jan. 1 The Italian memorandum to the Earl of Plymouth, chairman of the International Non-intervention Committee, regarding volunteers for Spain, is not a reply to the proposals of Britain and France on the subject. The Note demands that a ban be placed on financial assistance to Spain, including not only Government credits but loans from private banks and individuals. Italy insists that subscriptions to Spain henceforth should pass through the International Ped Cross, and measures also should be taken to prevent the Spanish Government using gold deposited abroad to further its military aims. Details of a scheme for land and sea supervision in Spain have been forwarded by Lord Plymouth to the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, for transmission to both sides in the civil war. The respective leaders are asked to give their approval or make comments within 10 days.