NON-INTERVENTION IN SPAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23331, 25 October 1937, Page 6

NON-INTERVENTION IN SPAIN

From its'beginnings the Non-inter-vention Committee has been confronted with obstructions and delays that have militated against its usefulness, It is not particularly surprising, therefore, to learn that the prospect, hailed as imminent in the cabled messages of last week, of its reaching an agreement respecting tke withdrawal of volunteers from Spain has receded and become problematical. The satisfaction expressed by the British press at the declaration by Signor Grandi on behalf of Italy and the assumption that it paved the way to an agreement appear to have been premature. Italy’s “concession” applied to acceptance of proposals brought forward by Britain some months ago. Now it is reported that serious obstacles to the attainment of an agreement still remain. Russia is made to figure at the moment as a somewhat intractable element in the discussions. Her delegate is said to have declared that ample experience had shown that Italy’s proposals were merely a further device for sending more troops to Spain, and also to have raised difficulty about subscribing to an agreement concerning which Italy, Germany and Portugal insist upon unanimity on the part of the Powers represented on the Non-intervention Committee. The Soviet representative seems also to have denounced the proposal to withdraw a “ token ” number of non-Spaniards as unfair in relation to the proportion of volunteers on the two sides. Such objections scarcely seem serious enough in themselves to imperil the success of the Committee’s deliberations. Another difficulty is reported to arise, however, out of the refusal of Italy, Germany and Portugal—the continued association of these three Powers is noticeable—to be bound by the estimates of the number of volunteer combatants that were to be made by the two Commissions which, under the proposed plan, would be sent to Spain. In an official pronouncement from Rome containing reference to the “grave difficulties”, of the Nonintervention Committee it is stated that Italy will make no further concessions. Present indications suggest that the Non-intervention Committee is in danger of achieving just as much or as little as had generally come to be expected of it, and that it has reached a point in these latest discussions beyond which the likelihood of its making further headway is open to grave doubt. Signor Grandi’s utterance has apparently not been accepted unreservedly as a sufficient revelation of the mind and real intention of Italy as regards the Spanish situation. The apparent futility of hoping that an agreement could be reached, or arrived at within a reasonable time, by all the Powers represented on the*Committee was a reason strongly animating the Anglo-French invitation to Italy to participate in a tripartite conference. Italy declined that invitation, and succeeded in having the discussion brought back to the Non-interven-tion Committee. It is reasonable to suppose that she will not be disappointed if the Committee con-

tinues to deliberate without agree-

ment, and if the status quo as regards volunteers in Spain remains unaltered. Not unreasonably has doubt been expressed respecting Italy’s sincerity concerning an issue upon which France and Britain have pressed for a speedy decision. Over details of procedure in respect of the plan before the Non-intervention Committee there is evidently only too much room for disagreement. Italy will not accept any responsibility, of course, for a breakdown of the conference, should that eventuate, and meanwhile General Franco’s latest victory in Northern Spain will no doubt provide her with cause to admire the contribution of her own diplomacy and of her own nationals.