BRITISH WARNING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19379, 17 July 1937, Page 6

BRITISH WARNING

EUROPEAN PERIL

CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN NEED TO CHECK SPREAD NON-INTERVENTION AIM

(British Official Wireless.) Rcc. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, July Hi. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, speaking in the House of Commons last night, said that if the British proposals were accepted they could provide a means of making non-inter-vention effective in the Spanish civil war and of limiting the risk of the conflict spreading and of confining it to the Spaniards. If the proposals failed and the non-intervention scheme broke down then Europe would enter upon a new and more perilous phase.

“You will have unchecked export of arms to both sides,” he continued. "You will have rumours, impossible to check, of the arrivals of large numbers of volunteers. You will go back into the era of grave peril in which incidents such as have already marked, and must inevitably mark, a civil war of this kind will have a much deeper significance. •*We have sought to discharge our task equitably ancT everyone will agree that we have done it rapidly. The British Government believes that these proposals arc a contribution to European collaboration and therefore peace.” Unanimous Agreement Meanwhile a council of Ministers in Paris is reported to have instructed the French Ambassador in London, M. Corbin, to accept the British proposals in principle. The plenary meeting of the nonintervention committee unanimously agreed that the proposals advanced by the British Government for closing the gap in the observation scheme and enabling the policy of non-intervention to be continued, offered a suitable basis for discussion and referred the plan to a sub-committee which will meet on Tuesday.

Lord Plymouth emphasised that the essentially compromise proposals contained in the plan were intended to provide a workable solution abeeptable, if not wholly satisfactory, to all parties. As unity of action at sea was no longer possible, it was essential for the Governments with naval responsibilities to seek the best means of avoiding the risks of ships becoming involved in incidents. Lord Plymouth added that in the view of the British Government, the precise conditions in which limited recognition of belligerent rights would operate in practice should be discussed forthwith, and they trusted that cooperation would enable satisfactory detailed arrangements. Tributes to Britain Members of the committee paid a tribute to the work of the British Government in producing the scheme. The German and Italian representatives, after complimenting the British Government, said they were prepared to recognise the plan as a basis of discussion, agreeing that speedy action was essential.

The French delegate, M. Corbin, emphasised the importance attached by France to the interdependence of tiie withdrawal of volunteers and the grant of belligerent rights.

The Soviet representative accepted the plan as a basis of discussion, and reserved the right to offer amendments.

The Portuguese Ambassador indicated that his Government would reinstate observers on its frontier when a similar course was taken on the Pyrenees.

The Australian Associated Press Agency’s diplomatic correspondent understands that although British circles are inclined to be optimistic over the non-intervention proposals, the fact that all Powers readily agreed does not necessarily indicate a smooth passage.

Lord Plymouth said that extended discussions next week were frowned on, but France, Russia, Germany, Italy, Norway, and others indicated that detailed discussion was necessary for certain aspects. It is regarded as likely, unless some breakdown occurs, that the talks will drag on for a long period.

LOYALIST OFFENSIVE NEW GROUND HELD WESTWARD OF MADRID (Klee. Tel. Copy right—'United Press Assn.) (Reed. July 17, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, July l(i. A message from Madrid states that the Soanish Government claims to have retained all of the ground that it gained to the westward of the capital. The Government further asserts that the offensive is slowly progressing.

QUEST FOR RECRUITS ACT IV I T Y I N 11 OL LA N I ) (Reed. July 17, noon.) AMSTERDAM, July Hi. A police statement says that the activity of agents in seeking recruits in Holland for the Government forces in Soain has increased since the suppression of the Frcnch-Spanish frontier control. Twenty young Dutchmen have mysteriously disappeared from their homes.