GERMAN REPLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23083, 8 January 1937, Page 7

GERMAN REPLY

FOREIGN TROOPS IN SPAIN DRASTIC PROPOSALS FORECAST BITTER FEELING TOWARDS RUSSIA GRAVE VIEWS OF SITUATION (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON. Jan. 6. (Received Jan. 7, at 8.10 p.m.) The Manchester Guardian’s Berlin correspondent says that Germany’s reply to the British Note on Spain is believed to propose a total embargo on assistance to either side and the removal from Spain of all foreign troops, war materials and political agents. The proposals are impracticable and drastic, especially since they express Germany’s hostility to Russia and are contingent on Russia’s action. Germany’s aim is to make the Berlin and Rome axis established by Herr Hitler’s protocols into a Berlin-Rome-London triangle through the Anglo-Italiai Pact, thus detaching England from France and solidifying Anglo-German relations on a basis of Bolshevist danger to the world. , ~■' .... The Labour leaders, Major Attlee and Mr A. Greenwood, saw 'the Foreign Secretary (Mr Eden) yesterday, and emphasised the Labour Party’s alarm at the Spanish situation. Mr Eden replied that the Government was doing its utmost to end the conflict and prevent it from spreading. , The Daily Herald’s diplomatic correspondent says that Mr Baldwin will return to London to-night. A full Cabinet meeting has been called for Wednesday next to consider the Italian and German ■replies and examine the next steps, if these are considered unsatisfactory. The Daily Herald adds that both the French and British Governments are now convinced that it is vital for European peace that the sending of volunteers ,to Spain must cease immediately. AIR RAIDS CONTINUED NO THOUGHT OF SURRENDER GERMAN AVIATORS KILLED MADRID, Jan. 6 (Received Jan. 7, at 5.5 p,mA Morning and/ afternoon aerial bombardments of Madrid, supported by artillery shelling, resulted in three hits on the telephone skyscraper. Government aircraft drove off the raiders. The girl operators, returning from the cellars, resumed plugging in almost before the termination of the attack. The bombardment during the last few days, coupled with infantry conflicts, cost,the defenders, according to General Franco’s estimate, 1000 killed and wounded. This estimate is somewhat discounted by Professor Haldane’s letter to his wife from Madrid, emphasising the futility of bombing the capital and saying that it would take a year of this sort of thing to make anyone dream of surrender. A Barcelona message states that five German aviators were killed during the Bilbao air raid. The submarine C2 brought down a rebel plane. This is believed to be unprecedented. BLOCKADE OF COAST RUMOURS OF FRANCO-BRITISH ACTION PARIS, Jan. 6. Sensational rumours have been revived to the effect that Britain and France are contemplating a naval blockage of the Spanish coast following a hurried visit by the Minister of Marine to Bizerta, France’s second most important Mediterranean naval base, and the despatch of British ships to Gibraltar. The Secretary of State for War, Mr Duff Cooper, is reoorted to have discussed with the French Foreign Minister, M. Daladier, the military consequences of a rebel victory with German forces, which virtually amounts to a German conquest of Spain. . , , Figaro declares that the whole Spanish affair stinks of hypocrisy. Masked war is being waged between the armed forces of countries not concerned with the immediate issues of the civil war. In Berlin the situation is regarded as grave in well-informed circles. Securities fell sharply on the Bourse owing to fears of complications. AN OFFICIAL DENIAL LONDON, Jan. 6. Official circles deny the reports that England and France are contemplating a blockade of Spanish ports. They state that Mr Duff Cooper’s visit to M. Daladier was a mere courtesy call and had no political significance. INDEFINITE TERMS THE PORTUGUESE REPLY (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Jan. 6 A summary of the Portuguese Government’s reply to the British and French Notes regarding volunteers in Spain was received in London yesterday It is described as non-committal, and makes any action eventually taken by Portugal conditional upon corresponding action by other Powers. Messages from Berlin and Rome on the subject of volunteers arriving in Spain foreshadow that the replies of the German and Italian Governments will be delivered to-morrow. ACTION BY UNITED STATES EXPORT OF ARMS PROHIBITED WASHINGTON, Jan. 7. (Received Jan. 7. at 10.25 p.m.) After less than three hours’ debate, Congress passed a joint resolution prohibiting the shipment of armaments to Spain.