SEEKING WAY OUT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19374, 12 July 1937, Page 6

SEEKING WAY OUT

DEADLOCK OVER SPAIN ANTHONY EDEN'S TASK ITALO-GERAIAN COMMENT MEASURE OF RESENTMENT (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 12.20 p.m. RUGBY, July 10. Although the tension has been relieved as a result of yesterday’s decision by. the non-intervention committee to invite the British Government to attempt to break the deadlock which is holding up the Spanish control scheme, it would be rash to assume that matters will easily resolve themselves merely because concord has been found on next mode of proeeedure. On the contrary it is recognised that a week-end of intensive labour lies before the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden and his advisers. They have been left with full discretion to make lire necessary soundings in whatever way they think best, and they already are addressing themselves with the utmost urgency to their task in the hope of being able to report results to the full committee early in the week. In the British view, either the gap in the sea observation scheme must remain open or someone must ire found fo till it. Tire granting of belligerent rights, which would unfairly assist one side, cannot in the British view be regarded as a substitute for naval control scheme. French Determination On the other hand the French Government’s determination to withdraw tiie facilities to obsevors in' the Pyrenees unless the gap is filled within the next day or two is regarded here as eminently reasonable. It is generally recognised that if the British Government can stave off an international breach over Spain it will have made a major contribution to the preservation of peace in Europe.

Newspaper comment on the nonintervention deadlock is generally restrained, but the comments made by the German Ambassador, Herr von Ribbentrop, and the Italian Ambassador, Count Grandi, aroused some resentment. Provocative Lana nag e The Morning Post, referring to attempts which have been made in various quarters lo denigrate the British policy and to represent it as clandestinely partial, says: “When it really comes to the point we find that nobody believes these charges.” The Daily Telegraph says: “Though the chance of discovering any generally acceptable plan seems poor enough, the British Government will not be deterred from the search lay the unneeessariiy-pro vocative language of Herr von Ribbentrop and Count Grandi.

The Manchester Guardian regards the British Government’s task as an unenviable one. It says that since both Germany and Italy supported the proposal to invite Britain to find a way out it seems that they might be prepared to consider a compromise.