STILL HELD UP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19100, 22 August 1936, Page 6

STILL HELD UP

NEUTRALITY PACT PLANS CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN ROMAN VIEW A WATTED BRITISH LEAD APPROVED (British Official Wifeless.) Reed. 1 p.m. IM.YIRY. Aug. 21. Further progress towards a general agreement- among the Powers in the French proposals for non-intervention in the Spanish civil war have been delayed pending a statement of the attitude of the Italian Government. The Franco-Italian conversations are continuing in Rome and (he latest reports state that (he outstanding diffevences are being narrowed down. 'lt is noted in London with satisfaction that although intense resentment is shown, in the German press anil a strongly-worded warning has been sent \io Madrid, the German Government's policy in the negotiations For non-inter-vention lias not, so far as is known, been affected by the unfortunate affair of the German ship Kamerun, which was held rip outside Spanish territorial waters by a Spanish Government cruiser as reported on Wednesday. The example set by the British Government's unilateral action in revoking! all licenses for the export of any kind of war material to Spain has been warmly welcomed in France, and it. is believed there that it will have a useful influence on the negotiations with Italy. POLICY OF BRITAIN The Times says that the motives liehind the British step should not be misinterpreted. "The object of His Majesty's Government is not merely to avoid embroilment in a conflict which does not concern it or to keep out of trouble at all costs." continues Tho Times. "It is a principle based upon and juslilied by long experience, liven in wartime its abandonment has usually had the opposite effects to those which the interference was intended In produce. In time of peace, intervention in the internal affairs of oilier Stales is always mischievous and often disastrous.] The right of every people to work out its own destiny must, be respected as the foundation of international law. This principle is at the moment especially applicable to Spain. Non-intervention is best for Spain and' necessary for Europe."

The British Government, if v:;t< slated in .London to-day, is not in direct, communication with either the Herman or the Italian Governments on tho ones. tion of the so-called blockade decrees published recently by the Madrid ftovct anient, nor regarding issues arising out of the Spanish naval interference with the German ship Kamerun.