SPAIN AGAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23505, 20 May 1938, Page 9

SPAIN AGAIN

CRISIS IN EUROPE MUSSOLINI’S ATTITUDE ANGERED BY FRENCH ACTION THREATENING SITUATION (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, May 19. (Received May 19, at 9.30 p.m.) The Australian Associated Press learns that communications which have reached Downing street indicate that Europe faces another crisis—again over Spain. The central figure is Signor Mussolini, who is angry because General Franco has not yet won and is now further hampered by the French refusal to close the Pyrennean frontier. It is understood that the British Cabinet discussed the situation today. It appears that II Duce, in accordance with the thesis that dictators are always right, is most uncompromising towards the French, the sequel to which, it is feared, may be the despatch of Italian reinforcements to Spain, which would threaten the Anglo-Italian agreement. The French Foreign Office denies that Signor Mussolini demanded that France should recognise a victory for General Franco’s forces in Spain. The French Foreign Office also denies the allegation that Russian and Czech war materials are going to Spain via France, or that the French General Staff has assisted the republicans to prepare defences. THE SCENE OF CONFLICT INSURGENT ADVANCES HEAVY ITALIAN CASUALTIES BURGOS, May 18. After a partial lull for three weeks the insurgents again launched an attack between Teruel and the » sea, and claim advances dominating Mosqueruela and gaining 62 square miles of territory since May 15. Heavy rain brought the offensive to a standstill to-day. The republicans claim that they reoaotured Corbalan. The Barcelona correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the insurgents blame the weather for slowing up the advance on Castellon, but the delays are believed to be due to the difficulty of replacing casualties. It is admitted that many hundreds of Italians were killed, and as the average number of dead to the number of wounded is one to five, the Italian losses must have hampered General Franco. BRITAIN'S POLICY QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE ASSURANCE OF CO-OPERATION (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, May 18. Several questions on the Spanish situation and on French-Italian conversations were answered in the House of Commons by the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Butler). Mr Arthur Henderson asked for an assurance that the British Government would support the French Government in resisting Italian pressure to change the French policy towards the Spanish Government. Mr Butler, in reply, stated that the good offices of the British Government were always at the disposal of the French and Italian Governments should they desire them with a view to expediting a settlement of the Spanish situation. Mr Henderson; In view of the fact that the policies of the French Government and the British Government in relation to Spain are the same does the British Government 'intend to allow the Italian Government to drive a wedge between them on this question? Mr Butler: I do not necessarily accept the interpretation Mr Henderson puts on Signor Mussolini s speech, and I cannot therefore give the assurances he desires. Fmplying to another question by Mr Noel Baker, who wished to know whether he could define the circumstances in which his Majesty’s Government would consider that a settlement of the Spanish question had been arrived at, Mr Butler said he could not go further than the statement made by the Prime Minister on May 2. Mr Baker: Does the Government accept or repudiate the definition that Signor Mussolini has now given —that there must be victory for General Franco before a settlement can- be arrived at? Mr Butler: The Government policy is given by the Prime Minister and not by anyone else. A question by Mr Wedgwood Benn referred to an interview between the Prime Minister and the Italian Ambassador, which was a private one, and Mr Chamberlain was not prepared to answer questions as to its nature.