REBELS' TROUBLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23691, 24 December 1938, Page 11

REBELS' TROUBLES

THE STAFF RESTIVE CONSULAR BAG INCIDENT INFORMATION LEAKING OUT (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph-Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 22. Diplomatic circles say that the Franco maps found in Mr Goodman's bag are not the only pieces of military information that have strayed from the Nationalist command. It has been confirmed that one of General Franco's officers went over to the Republicans, taking with him most of the plans for the Catalonian offensive, which was consequently postponed at the eleventh hour. The extent of the recentlyreported arrests of Nationalist officers is believed to be overstated, though the report of restiveness among General Franco's staff are accepted. The Daily Mail gives the name of the arrested British messenger as Mr J. Rattenbury. MR GOODMAN'S POSITION NOT A PAID OFFICIAL LONDON, Ded. 22. The Australian Associated Press learned that none of the Consulate officers implicated in the San Sebastian bag mystery is a paid member of the service. Mr Goodman, who is a British subject, and has been a resident of Spain for many years, acts in an honorary capacity, but was granted certain special allowances after the outbreak of the war. There is no confirmation of the reported arrests by the Nationalists of a Briton, Mr Ernest . Golding, who is replacing Mr Goodman, and the British messenger, Mr J. Rattenbury. Neither is immune fron. arrest. Mr Golding is classed as a "pro-consul," which is the lowest consulate grading. Two prominent French officials at San Sebastian have been arrested. A Spanish Foreign Office statement declares that the consular bag has been a regular channel for spy communications, and thanks Britain for the assistance given after the discovery. The Nationalists deny the military revolts, but admit the discovery of a vast spy network. It is believed that the official report suggests that the statements from the Hendaye correspondents were not exaggerated. There were probably at least 1500 arrests, including a number of high-placed officials. THE REBEL LEADER ALLEGATION AGAINST FRANCE LONDON, Dec. 22. General Franco has sent a Note to Britain alleging that France supplied the loyalist destroyer Jose Luis Diez, which was being repaired at Gibraltar, with torpedoes, anti-aircraft shells, and other ammunition. The Note declared that a French repair ship transported supplies, and that French sailors supplemented the destroyer's crew. French warships apparently intend to cover the destroyer's departure, all of which is a flagrant violation of non-interven-tion, threatening serious complications. A SABOTAGE PLOT BIGGEST OF THE YEAR ■ BARCELONA, Dec. 23. (Received Dec. 23, at 10.30 p.m.) The radio announced that the biggest sabotage plot during the war had been uncovered in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, where, it is alleged, Franco agents gained control of the coal, food and milk supplies, which they sabotaged and then capitalised on the population's discontent. Several hundred were arrested and will be immediately court-martialled. BELLIGERENT RIGHTS BRITISH POLICY UNCHANGED (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Dec. 22. (Received Dec. 23, at 6.30 p.m.) Mr R. A. Butler (Under-secretary for Foreign Affairs) received a deputation organised by the London Federation of Peace Councils for the purpose of discussing questions connected with the war in Spam. He informed the deputation with regard to the granting of belligerent rights to General Franco's administration that as long as the proposals in the plan of the Non-intervention Committee continued to represent the programme of the committee the Government, as a member of the committee, adhered to them and had no proposals to advance for altering that position. The British Navy would continue to protect on the high seas British merchantmen, including those chartered by relief organisations. The deputation suggested that an international scheme might be evolved similar to the British export guarantee system to facilitate the sending of food, coal, and cotton goods to Spain. The deputation also suggested that plans might be advanced to suitable relief organisations in order to alleviate the immediate conditions of starvation, repayment being made in due time through the present methods of collecting individual donations. Mr Butler promised to consider a further memorandum containing these and other suggestions, and gave information about the steps which had been taken to examine the proposals for sending herrings and possibly coal to Spain.