ANXIOUS WAIT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19365, 1 July 1937, Page 5

ANXIOUS WAIT

ITALO-NAZT AIMS INQUIRY BY WHITEHALL NON-INTERVENTION URGE CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN POSSIBLE NEW SCHEME (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) ( Reed. July 1. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 30. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Mail says that the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, hurriedly conferred with the leading Ministers last night regarding the grave situation which might develop if the agreement for non-intervention in the Spanish civil war goes by the board. The matter was further discussed at the Cabinet meeting to-day. “There is little doubt,” adds the Daily Mail, “that if the agreement collapsed, Britain would - immediately admit there' is a state of. belligerency in Spain and,-thereby, grant rights to; both sides. British ships would be withdrawn, thus proclaiming her complete neutrality.” France would either follow Britain’s example, says the Morning Post, or continue to recognise only the Spanish Government at Valencia. Italy and Germany have been given until Friday either to accept the British and French proposals for continuing the naval control system or to suggest some alternative. May Lapse from Disunity There has been no development of any kind in the non-intervention question since yesterday’s meeting. It is simply a case of waiting for Italy and Germany to show their hands on Friday, when tfiey will reply to the British proposals. The general assumption is that they are resolved to let non-intervention die from the disunity engendered by the divergent interests. What will replace it, Whitehall is unable to prophesy. Another deduction is that Italy and Germany are determined to keep the Mediterranean coast of Spain free from international control. Whether this portends some more direct intervention in favour of General Franco is at present mere conjecture. The German Ambassador, Herr von Ribbentrop, supported Count Grandi, the Italian representative, yesterday and aroused some hope on the committee by a suggestion that they might have an entirely fresh scheme for non-intervention, because the existing plan is foredoomed to failure. Pressed for an outline of the alternative scheme, he remainded silent. SHELLS IN MADRID PANIC IN STREETS S A NTA ND ER ADVANCE (Reed. July 1, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 30. Reports from Madrid state that savage fighting culminated in the withdrawal of the insurgents in the Jarama sector. Shells crashed throughout the night in Madrid, causing panic among crowds who were strolling in the streets on the hot summer evening. The rebels are reported to have advanced some distance toward Santander, supported by a bombardment of the coastal road by the fleet.