ILL-TIMED THREAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 11

ILL-TIMED THREAT

OPINION IN BRITAIN ATTITUDE OF FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN INTERESTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 8, 1.5 a.m.) LONDON, July 7

General Franco's demand is regarded by Whitehall as an ill-timed threat.

The British view, according to tho Daily Telegraph, is that the granting of belligerent rights can be considered only when non-Spanish aid is eliminated.

France regards the question as a political one and considers that the situation must be regarded from the point of view of the Mediterranean interests at stake.

France intends to open tho frontier unless effective naval control and the supervision of-the Portuguese land frontier are enforced.

The Spanish Embassy in London states that its Government does not favour tho granting of belligerent rights.

Evidence is accumulating that General Franco is prepared to dismiss the foreign troops from Spain provided that the Valencia Government acts similarly, but difficulty is likely to arise through Russia's insistence that the Moors also must be withdrawn.

Competent observers estimate that the trained and armed Spanish forces with General Franco total 600,000, and those of the Government 560,000.

BRITISH POLICY CONTROL COMMITTEE PLENARY MEETING TO-MORROW British Wireless RUGBY. July rj Tho plenary meeting of the Nonintervention Committee has been called for Friday. Mr. Eden, Foreign Secretary, in announcing this in the House of Commons, said the British Government's policy remained as he had explained yesterday. The Government not only made its own proposals, but had declared its willingness to consider any others that were just and*fair. CALM AFTER TENSION PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS k COMPROMISE TO BE SOUGHT LONDON, July o The diplomatic correspondent of tho Australian Associated Press says he understands that, in view of the calmness succeeding last week's tension, there is no chance of a breakdown of the Non-intervention Committee on Friday, but a sub-committee will be appointed to work out an equitable compromise, for which purpose private discussions are proceeding.

NEW REBEL DRIVE

ITALIAN TROOPS IN NORTH LOYALIST GAIN REPORTED LONDON, July 6 A new drive against Santander has begun, and battles are raging on three fronts. Italian Legionaries in the north captured Castro Alen, 16 miles from the coast. General Davila's troops in the south are attacking a deep salient in the Basque lines near Valmaseja. General Franco's troops made an attack to-day west of Santander. The Valencia Government reports the capture of Brunete, an important position 20 miles west of Madrid, and states that tho loyalist troops reached Villanueve de la Canada, where a violent battle is proceeding.

ENTRY TO SANTANDER RISK TO MERCHANT SHIPS British Wireless RUGBY, July 6 The President of the Board of Trade, Mr. Oliver Stanley, in replying to a question to-day in the House of Commons, said that in the fortnight ended June 30, 15 British ships had entered Santander, all of which carried observing officers. The Board of Trade had no information that any of these vessels experienced difficulty. Since June 30, however, Spanish insurgent war vessels had endeavoured to prevent the entry of merchant ships to Santander, and had captured a French vessel on July 4. Notification had been sent to British shipping regarding the risks which British merchant ships bound for Santander might encounter in territorial waters.