CALMNESS URGED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19340, 2 June 1937, Page 5

CALMNESS URGED

SPANISH CRISIS

REPRISALS BY GERMANY

REACTION IN CAPITALS

MADRID TRESS OUTCRY

SEVERE PARIS CENSURE

(Elec. Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) LONDON, June 1.

The keynote of official comment in London and Paris in respect to the bombing of the German warship Deutschland in Ibiza harbour oil Saturday and tbe shelling of Almeria by German vessels on Monday as a reprisal is the necessity for being calm.

The Spanish Government is observing similar restraint and has declined to make further comment beyond a statement recounting all the facts to the League of Nations.

A Madrid message says that tlie newspapers, however, are most indignant over the, shelling of Almeria. .Not .a single paper hopes- for action by the League or Franco-British action, they, therefore, call for unity of the Populai Front against the Fascist invaders.

A Salamanca message states that General Franco, leader of the rebel forces, delivering an address from the balcony of his headquarters, to 1000 Italian and German sympathisers, described the bombing of the Deutschland as a stain oil Spanish honour. He concluded with the cry. “Long live Germany, Italy, and Spain.”

The demonstrators afterwards marched to the Italian and German embassies and cheered.

Franco-British Stand

The Paris correspondent of The Times says that official circles in France indicate that Fiance will refrain from taking any action until the facts and then implications under international law are established. Meanwhile, Franco intended to act in the closest connection with Britain.

Sir Eric Phipps, British Ambassador, has already consulted M. Leon Bluin, the French Prime Minister, who conferred with the Russian and Spanish Ambassadors.

It is generally felt that even if the Spanish aircraft pilots were at fault m bombing the Deutschland in Ibiza harbour oil Saturday the action of the German warships in shelling Almeria was an inexcusably savage reprisal. The Daily Mail says that the British and French Governments are actively communicating by telephone to avert further developments and are also cooperating in an attempt to obtain an undertaking from the Spanish Government that there will be no repetition of the bombing of warships.

Mr. Eden’s Warning

The British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, sent a message to the Spanish Government at Valencia emphasising that international peace might be gravely strained in the event of a. recurrence of the Bombing oft ■ worships. His message was followed by an hour’s interview with the German Ambassador in London, ITerr von Riblientrop, who said that Germany did not intend to continue the reprisals. Mr. Eden said that he hoped he would be, able to obtain a guarantee regarding a non-recurrence of the bombing of warships which would satisfy Italy and Germany, thus enabling the maintenance of the Non-inter-vention Committee.

Owing to rumours of the activities of French warships, an official communique has been issued announcing that only normal movements are being carried on.

French newspapers, while hoping the incident is closed, express that Germany showed a brutal and violentreaction to the bombing of the Deutschland, which the Italians wisely avoided after the bombing of one of their vessels at Palma.

The German press indulges in diatribes against bolshevism, but the tenor of the comments indicates that the official policy is likewise to use the soft pedal.

ITALIAN INDIGNATION

LEAVING CONTROL PLAN

DUCE-HITLER TALKS

(Reed. June 2, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Juno 1. Messages from Rome state that the bombing of the Deutschland has caused intense indignation. Signor Mussolini did not attend the baptism of the infant son of the Crown Prince, which is interpreted to be due to a lengthy telephonic conversation lie had with Herr Hitler. It is believed that if Italian vessels are again bombed, Signor Mussolini will also give orders to bombard a Spanish city.

Meanwhile, the Italian Government has issued the following communique: “Repeated attacks against Italian and German warships having plainly proved a premeditated plan of aggression, Italy lias decided to withdraw from international control and its members from the Non-intervention Committee until means are adopted to prevent new criminal attacks.”

Jt is stated that Italy is sending naval reinforcements to Spain. Semi-official comment emphasises that Signor Musso lini and Here Hitler will act jointly against the Spanish Government in the event of further provocation. They have also expressed their determination to stand firm in Spain until the end of the civil war. Therefore, British proposals for an armistice to permit the with drawal of foreign troops from Spain were dead ami buried.

The Morning Post’s diplomatic correspondent points out that Italy and Germany’s withdrawal from the control .scheme leaves the whole of Eastern Spain free from supervision, greatly favouring the Valencia and Catalan Governments, to whoso ports ships can now proceed without hindrance. A naval review in honour of the German Minister, Field Marshal von. Blomberg on June 6, for which 14 warships already have assembled near Naples, has been postponed owing to the Spanish situation