SPANISH SITUATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26042, 4 January 1946, Page 5

SPANISH SITUATION

ANOTHER CIVIL WAR POSSIBLE EXILED PREMIER’S STATEMENT (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 3. The outcome of the forthcoming British, American, anti French conference in Paris to consider the Spanish situation may determine whether another civil war will break out in Spain. This statement was made at a press conference by the Premier of the exiled Spanish Republican Government, Jose Giral. He added that if the other Powers did not support the return of the legally constituted Government it might be necessary to have recourse to revolutionary measures. “We do not desire civil war, but will go to this extreme if necessary to overthrow Franco. The exiled Government is in close daily contact with the Spanish underground movement and is prepared to give the signal for an uprising at any moment.” Giral advocates diplomatic pressure against Franco, also an economic embargo on petroleum, cotton, rubber, and possibly wheat, “ which would cause Spain’s entire economic structure to collapse and result in Franco’s immediate downfall.” Giral confirmed the reports that the Spanish Government would move from Mexico City to Paris as soon as French permission was granted.