BRITAIN'S PART

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23734, 15 February 1939, Page 9

BRITAIN'S PART

IN SURRENDER OF MINORCA THE DEVONSHIRE’S VISIT STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Feb. 13. Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons at question time, gave an account of Britain’s action in connection with the Devonshire’s visit and the surrender of Minorca. “At the request of the local authorities at Palma, the British Government,” he said, “ undertook to convey a Spanish senior officer to Minorca in order that he might negotiate the peaceful surrender of the island. Britain previously had been informed that unless it could make the negotiations possible by providing means of communication, an attack would be launched on Minorca. I thereupon, seeing that a British ship provided the only available means of making peaceful contact with Minorca, and being anxious to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, permitted an application to be made for the services of the Devonshire. Britain consulted neither the Spanish Government nor the Burgos authorities, though the local authorities at Palma were, it is understood, in touch with General Franco. France, who was kept fully infomied, approved the action of Britain, and the Devonshire duly proceeded to Minorca, and it is understood that surrender of the island has now taken place. Britain took no part in the negotiations and has no responsibility for them.” The Devonshire had taken the opportunity of embarking some 450 refugees who considered they might run a risk of reprisal. These refugees had now been landed at Marseilles in co-op-eration with the French authorities. ATTACK ON PORT MAHON DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Feb. 13. Mr Chamberlain’s House of Commons statement in reference to Minorca and H.M.S. Devonshire gave rise to a number of questions relating to the air attack on Port Mahon while the Devonshire was in the roadstead. After saying that representations had been made to General Franco and being further pressed by Mr Attlee, Mr Chamberlain said: “Perhaps I had better read the following telegram received from our Consul at Palma. He says, ‘ The Nationalist senior naval officer who takes charge in the temporary absence of Admiral Moreno authorises me to cite him officially as saying that the attack was carried out in disobedience'of orders, and he very much regretted it. He promises to reply on Monday.’ ” Mr Chamberlain, in another'* reply, declared that he thought Great Britain’s position had been mfide perfectly clear, and he did not thin,k there had been any misunderstanding about it at the time or that the facilities afforded could possibly be construed as conferring British preference on Senor de Mandox, General Franco’s envoy.