FRIENDSHIP PLEDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 11

FRIENDSHIP PLEDGE

ITALY AND GEEMANY GENERAL FRANCO'S SPEECH OUTRIGHT DECLARATION " GAVE ' BLOOD WITH OURS" By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 28, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 27 "The hour for truth has come. To-day Britain recognised us, and to-morrow it will be the whole world," declared General Franco, addressing 40,000 cheering Nationalists from the balcony of his residence at Burgos. "When even those opposing us now recognise us, we should remember those who believed in us from the first., "Let us therefore pledge our friendship to those who gave their blood with ours-—to our beloved Italy , and friendly Germany, and those South American nations; which encouraged us. "Our victory has not been won over our own brothers, but over the world, over \international forces,, over Communism and Freemasonry." The Times, in a leading article, says: "The recognition of General, Franco is an act of appreciation accordant with Britain's steadfast policy. The French and British acknowledgment signals the world's acknowledgment of General Franco as ruler. Mr. Attlee's attack on Mr. Chamberlain is a quibble."

MURDERED PRISONERS REPUBLICANS' VICTIMS BODIES IDENTIFIED BISHOP OF TERUEL INCLUDED (Received February 28, 6.5 p.m.) Times Cable . LONDON, Feb. 28 Gangs of workers ; are removing the debris due to the Nationalist bombings and the Republicans' dynamiting of buildings during the retreat from Gerona and Figueras, says the correspondent of the Times at Perpignan. The recognition of General Franco enables France to restore to Spain the prisoners who were carried along in the retreat into France. The Republicans shot 42 at Port de Molius and, 48 at El Collell, but others escaped. * The unidentified bishop whose body with 41 others , was found in a gully was the Bishop, of Teruel, who was captured when Colonel Rav Harcourt, commander at Teruel, surrendered to the Republicans. The 1 body of the bishop and. that of Colonel Harcourt, who was also, among those shot, were both burned, but were identifiable.

The Nationalists continue to- arrest terrorists, says the. Barcelona correspondent of the British United Press. The French police at Toulouse arrested 13 alleged Spanish Anarchists, who were removed to Perpignan. Senor del Vayo arrived at Valencia from Paris and immediately conferred with Br: Negrin, the former Republican Prime Minister.