NOTE TO POWERS

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

NOTE TO POWERS

GENERAL FRANCO BELLIGERENT RIGHTS RECOGNITION DEMANDED WAR AGAINST RED SPAIN By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 7, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, July 0 The leader of the Spanish insurgents, General Franco, has sent a Note to the Powers demanding recognition as a belligerent under international law and threatening to close Spain against those "who show themselves our enemies." Also General Franco accuses Britain and France of intervention. The Note says: "The sacrifices Nationalist Spain is making in defence of western civilisation by freeing her territory from Communism and estabI lishing national unity entitles her to demand respect and to speak clearly to the world and especially to Britain and France, who have, either by action or inaction, intervened in favour of those who are seeking to Bolshevise and destroy Spain. "We have presented powerful and unanswerable reasons for demanding recognition as belligerents, but we see the justice of our cause distorted and disfigured while silence is preserved regarding the criminal genius presiding over the Government and the entire life of Hod Spain." The Note continues: "None of the countries which are morally supporting us sock territorial advantages at our expense," or an alteration of the status quo in the Mediterranean. If the other nations —forgetting their

future interests —do not satisfy the demands of Nationalist Spain and if they reply to her proofs of friendship with injustice and ill-will, they must not be surprised if to-morrow our international and economic policy closes its doors to those who show their enmity to us in our hour of need."

USE OF POISON GAS GOVERNMENT TROOPS GERMAN PRESS ALLEGATION (Received July 8, 12.10 a.m.) BERLIN, July 7 The German newspapers are suddenly alleging that the Spanish Government's forces are using poison gas and preparing large quantities for future use. The production of large supplies of gas, according to the Spanish Nationalists, began three months ago undpr Moscow's orders. The necessary acids cannot be obtained in Spain, but were taken in from Russian ports on the Black Sea, the papers assert. Also they say that the Valencia Government is making feverish efforts to supply the troops with gas masks, as it fears retaliation.

BELIEVED TORPEDOED BRITISH SHIP'S S.O.S. LONDON, July 6 The British cruiser Penelope is searching for the crew of a British ship which is believed to have been torpedoed in the Mediterranean. % S.O.S. signals have been heard reporting that the men were adrift in an open boat without oars, and that the captain was dead after the ship had been torpedoed by an unknown submarine 50 miles from Barcelona. The vessel's name was indecipherable.