REFUGEES FROM SPAIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19314, 3 May 1937, Page 13

REFUGEES FROM SPAIN

ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN HELP FOR BOTH SIDES ESCORT FOR STEAMERS (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2 p.m RUGBY, April 30. The Basque Government having inquired in London as to whether naval protection would be afforded to ships by which it hopes to arrange for the evacuation of women and children and old people from Bilbao, the British Government lias ascertained that there would be complete impartiality as. between the parties and the supporters and opponents of the existing regime in the choice of refugees for evacuation. In these circumstances, in conformity with the policy hitherto followed of lending all possible assistance to humanitarian work to both sides in the civil war, His Majesty's Government has instructed British warships to give protection outside territorial wafers to any vessels carrying non-combatant refugees from Bilbao. The British Government confidently assumes that General Franco, for his part, would not, wish to impede this humanitarian endeavour, and if anticipates no difficulty regarding tho departure of refugee ships. Actually, so far there has been no attempt by the, insurgent naval forces to interfere with shipping of any kind leaving Bilbao. It is understood that tho British consul at Bilbao will be in a position to satisfy himself of the complete disregard of political considerations in the selection of refugees.

The chairman's sub-committee of fhe international committee for the application of the agreement, regarding nonintervention in Spain met today. It lias under consideration fhe position which would arise if a ship on a. voyago to or from Spanish ports, which had a right to fly the flag of one of the countries parties to the agreement, and which had on board international observing officers, should be seized or interfered with off the coasts of Spain by either of the two parties in Spain. After a general exchange of views, the committee agreed that a plenary session of the international committee should be held on Wednesday for the purpose of considering a draft questionau'Q in which the Governments would bo asked to furnish statements of their views on the foregoing question.