RIFT IN PLAN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19364, 30 June 1937, Page 6

RIFT IN PLAN

SPANISH COAST PATROL ANGLO-FRENCH OFFER ITALO-NAZE HOSTILITY OTHER NATIONS APPROVE (British O flic ini Wireless.) Rccd. 1.15 p.m RUGBY, June 29. A scheme under which the British and French Governments agreed to assume the responsibilities for the operation of the scheme in respect of the whole coasts of Spain, and further agreed in principle to the appointment of neutral observers stationed on patrol ships, was submitted to the non-intervention subcommittee to-day. A communique issued at the close of the meeting stated that the representatives of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Sweden and Soviet Russia welcomed the Anglo-French proposals on behalf of their Governments. The German and Italian representatives strongly objected, in principle, to any proposal not based on necessary equilibrium so as to ensure absolute impartiality of control. They further indicated that their Governments had decided to advise their nationals at present employed as observer officers under the observation scheme to resign their appointments. At the conclusion of the discussion all representatives undertook to refer the proposals to their Governments with the request for immediate instructions. Withdrawal of Foreigners A plan for the withdrawal from Spain of non-Spanish nationals engaged in the conflict was considered. The French representative suggested that as a start arrangements be made for the immediate withdrawal of all non-Spanish prisoners of war or wounded. Further discussion was deferred until July 2. It is thought in London that the ofier to agree, in principle, to the appointment of neutral observers in the patrol ships should give a sufficient guarantee of strict impartiality if the Anglo-French control scheme were adopted. As to land observation. the decrees which the Portuguese Government have issued regarding the passage of men and materials to Spain are still in force, but Portugal desires that the gap in the control scheme caused by the German and Italian withdrawal should be filled as soon as possible. Italian Denial The Italian representative on the non-intervention committee referred to a recent communique issued by the Spanish Embassy in London “containing allegations about the recent landing of Italian soldiers in Spain.” He added: “I wish to declare that no single Italian volunteer has left my country since the ban was agreed upon hv this committee.” The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. Duff Cooper, replying to a question in the House of Commons, said that it having become evident that the Spanish insurgents were not intending, for the time being, to blockade Santander, the advice to British ships not to enter that port had been withdrawn. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, said that protection by the British Navy to refugee ships proceeding from the north coast of Spain to French ports must be governed by the willingness of the French Government to receive such refugees. The French Government, within 24 hours, would submit proposals dealing with the whole question of the transference of refugees.. It had been made clear that there must be some adequate system of control to ensure that the refugees were limited to women and children. The President of the Board of Trade. Mr. Oliver Stanley, replying to a question as to whether the ships which brought the refugee children from Bilbao carried any cargo or securities as part of their cargo from Spain, replied that he was advised the the Habana landed no mails or cargo of any kind in this country.