SPANISH MYSTERY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19824, 29 December 1938, Page 5

SPANISH MYSTERY

CONSUL’S BAG INCIDENT DENIAL OF EXECUTION SENORA STILL ALIVE BRITISH INQUIRIES (Eloc. Tol. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 29, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON. Dee. 28. A message from I-lendaye says that it is revealed 'that Senora Carreras, the British-born wife of the ex-film magnate, who was reported to have been shot by the Nationalists, is alive. Senora Carreras was not involved in the incident involving the finding of maps and other military information in the Consular bag of the British vice-consul at San Sebastian, Mr. Harold Goodman, despatched to the British Embassy at St. Jean cle Luz. It is believed that she was detained at Burgos pending investigation of another charge.

Senora Bengoietchea, for whose husband the packet was intended, was court-martialled at San Sebastian for espionage. Her husband had been working at St. Jean de Luz on behalf of the Barcelona Government.

A man named Firman, a porter at the British Consulate at San Sebastian, committed suicide by jumping from a window. Madame Lugarde, a French secretary employed at the Consulate has been arrested, but not in connection with the bag incident. The Australian Associated press savs that Sir Clair O’Malley, the British Minister at Hendaye, has arrived in London to enable the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, to hear personally the result of the inquiries into the diplomatic bag mystery. Sir Clair O’Malley went to Burgos immediately after the incident. It is understood that the inquiries so far have not relieved the British embarrassment resulting from the discovery. Sir Clair O’Malley reported there was no foundation to the stories of the arrest of British Consulate officials.