CAUSE LOST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 13

CAUSE LOST

REPUBLICAN SPAIN AZANA^S_BELIEF WILL NOT KETUBN ARMISTICE POSSIBLE IF FRANCO ACCEPTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 17, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 16 The President of Republican Spain, Don Manuel Azana, is reported to have initiated peace discussions without the Premier, Dr. Negrin's, approval, states a message from Pax-is.

The proposal is based, firstly, on the evacuation of foreign combatants; secondly, on a demand that there will be no reprisals; and, thirdly, on the ending of all foreign influence once the Spaniards have settled their own affairs. Well-informed circles believe that if General Franco accepts the offer, an immediate armistice is possible. ' An earlier report said the Foreign Minister, Senor del Vayo, unsuccessfully attempted again to induce the President to return to Madrid. President Azana believes that his return ■would be interpreted as a desire to resist to the end, whereas he, with a majority of Republican leaders, is convinced that further resistance is impossible. The Paris correspondent of the Times 6avs President Azana favours unconditional surrender. The Premier, Dr. Negrin, and Senor del Vayo, are holding out for assurances that the Italians will be withdrawn and that militant Republicans whose lives are endangered shall be enabled to leave Spain. ' One of the most important aspects of M. Berard's mission to Burgos is to discover -whether General Franco is prepared and able to ensure the departure of the Italians and Germans.

NATIONALIST REGIME RECOGNITION OPPOSED 7 ' ••/ OXFORD PROFESSORS' VIEWS ,i LONDON, Feb. 10 Forty-two Oxford professors and tutors have telegraphed to the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, urging Britain not to recognise General Franco vrhile tlie Republicans hold territory, and while Italian and German troops remain in Spain.

The Evening Standard says Britain and France are delaying the recognition of Geueral Franco in the hope that the Kepublican President, Don Manuel A/ana, will issue a proclamation to the republic announcing the end of resistance and advising surrender to General Franco.

ITALIAN COMMENT ANGLO-FRENCH POLICY LONDON, Feb. 16 The Italian Legionaries will not return frcfm Spain until General Franco announces that their task is finished, says the official journal Informazione Diplomatica. It adds that the British and French procedure in regard to recognising General Franco ranges from flattery to threats and shows the democracies' mental confusion, if not ignorance of , Spanish psychology. "It is Italy's way to march with a friend to the end, no matter what happens. We do not believe that comradeship formed on battlefields, on the ' land, or in the air is destined to dissolve without leaving a trace," says the journal. ,