LESS PROMISING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19099, 21 August 1936, Page 6

LESS PROMISING

HOPES FOR AGREEMENT ATTITUDE TO SPAIN KAN ON AH MS SUPPLY ITALIAN VIEW UNCERTAIN (Bril tell Official Wireless.) LI.) p.m. RUGBY. Am;. 20. Although 10 Governments, including all the Powers most immediately eoncorned. have now approved the French proposals For non-intervention .in the Spanish civil war. the. application ot prohibition of war materials and munitions is held tip pending the Italian reply to the French formula. It is reported among authoritative French observers at Rome that the prospects of an early settlement of the outstanding Italian reservations which, it is understood, were discussed last night during a visit of the French Ambassador io Fount: Piano, are less promising. The general application of the embargo is dependent, it' accordance with the terms of the French formula, on acceptance by Italy, in addition to certain powers which, with reservations in some cases, already have ad-lie red to the agreement, namely, Russia, Portugal, Germany, and Britain. ACTION BY BRITAIN The British Government acted without waiting for the general agreement. The prohibition of tne export of arms and munitions of war of all kinds to Spain from Britain became effective to-day. It. applies to civil as well as military aeroplanes, whether exported by a ship or flown under their own power. A further step in regard to the matter was taken this afternoon, when the Secretary of State for Air issued a communique stating that the Air .Ministry would take a serious view of any attempts to deliver aircraft, directly or indirectly, to Spain in evasion of the prohibition.

The firm lead given by the British Government: in taking unilateral action in tiiis matter is regarded by newspapers as offering the best possible proof of Britain’s sincere desire for non-intervention. Hopes are entertained that the British decision will have a steadying effect in Paris, and that it may hasten a general agreement by effecting a persuasive influence in Rome as well as in Berlin.

The Times says agreement among the Powers that would eliminate the danger of Spain being made a battleground for the rival political theories in Europe would be valuable in itself, and it would make the preliminary negotiations for a five-Power conference sure. ■’DROME WORKERS CRASH PLAN TO FLY TO SPAIN MISHAP IN TAKE-OFF (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2 p.m. IIUGBY, Aug. 20. The importance of the measures the British Government has taken to secure the enforcement, of the prohibition on the export of aircraft, to Spain was underlined by an incident which occurred at the Portsmouth aerodrome a few hours before the issue of the Ail* Ministry's warning to pilots. A statement made public later by Airspeed Limited, describes wliat occurred. “Etalv to-day, two wood-working employees of this company went- into a hangar on the Portsmouth aerodrome and took out a Courier aeroplane, the property of the company.” states the official report. “Neither of the men was a pilot. In this aeroplane, (hey attempted to take off from the aerodrome, but hit an obstruction on the boundary and crashed. Both men were seriously injured.

“Subsequently to the accident, one of the men said they took the machine with (he intention of flying it to Spain. We take this opportunity of stating that the net' was entirely unauthorised by this company, which lmd no knowledge or cognisance of this foolhardy attempt.”