REBELS' ALLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 15

REBELS' ALLIES

ITALIAN TROOPS NUMBERS IN SPAIN ROME ADMITS TO 40,000 OFFICIAL v BITTERNESS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ROME, Oct. 18 An official announcement states that absolutely fantastic figures, which are creating dangerous hysteria and war psychosis, have been given abroad regarding the Italian volunteers in Spain. Accordingly it is advisable to state officially that the volunteers number about 40,000, including supply services. "This is the truth and there is no fear of denials from any quarter," says the announcement. "Valencia's volunteers number many more." The statement specifically refers to Mr. Lloyd George's speech yesterday,, in which he said Herr Hitler and II Dtice were sending 100,000 troops to Spain, as grave and scandalous in an ex-Premier, whoso age should recommend him to take care. It adds: "It is time these shameless manoeuvres were ended in order to make possible a peaceful study of the situation. There are at present no illusions reregarding the good faith of Italy's opponents." The statement has caused a sensation in foreign diplomatic circles. Wellinformed people detect II Duce's style in the bitterness of the outburst, preceding the new meeting of the Nonintervention Committee, although officials subsequently stated that it was not intended to hinder the work of that committee.

STATEMENT SCOUTED SPANISH GOVERNMENT TOTAL PUT AT 110,000 LONDON, Oct. 18 The Spanish Embassy in London, replying to the statement from Rome, says the loyalist Government has information that there are 110,000 Italians in Spain. A message from Valencia, the Spanish Government's headquarters, states that commentators there scoff at Count Grandi's token of withdrawal as the foreign volunteers helping the loyalists total at most 15,000, compared with General Franco's 110,000. WITHDRAWAL PLAN i COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS COMMENTS IN THE PRESS i British Wireless . RUGBY, Oct. 18 At to-morrow's resumed meeting of the chairman's sub-committee of the Non-intervention Committee, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, will preside in the absence of the Earl of Plymouth. The considered views of the Governments represented on the committee will, it is hoped, be available on the French plan for the withdrawal from Spain within as short a time as possible of non-Spanish combatants. There is no inclination in the press to regard the outlook for the success of the French proposals with undue optimism, but the Times says the previous discussion was "not unhelpful." The Daily Telegraph says that behind all the signs of dissension there is a surprising measure of agreement on fundamentals. The *only jarring Note came from the Soviet.

The Daily Herald (Labour) is critical of the Italian suggestion that the number of withdrawals on each side shall be equal. This, says the paper, is inequitable and is known to Italy to be unacceptable, only offering scope for protracted talk.

The News Chronicle describes the Italian offer as a mockery of unfairness, and the Manchester Guardian says Count Grandi's reference to equal quantity in withdrawals and to belligerent rights opens out the old and dreary rista of interminable talk leading to a goal of action that indefinitely recedes.

The interventionist Powers, the paper says, have played this game profitably and long, but surely, as far as the Non-intervention Committee is concerned, for the last time.