BRITISH PLAN DEBATED

Southland Times, Issue 23254, 17 July 1937, Page 7

BRITISH PLAN DEBATED

LABOUR MEMBERS’ CRITICISM “SURRENDER TO FASCIST POWERS” (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received July 16, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 15. In the House of Commons, the Leader of the Opposition, Major C. R. Attlee, moved for a debate on the . subject of “the declared intention of the Government to make to the Non-Intervention Committee proposals which contemplate the granting of belligerent rights to General Franco and which do not make effective provision for the complete cessation of foreign intervention in The Speaker asked if Major Attlee had the support of the House and Labour members rose in a body to signify their assent, whereupon leave was granted. Major Attlee declared the Government’s proposals were ill-conceived and dangerous and would only produce another of those cases in which, under the pretence of making non-interven-tion effective, General Franco had been given an advantage. . Mr Eden, in attempting to reconcile the irreconcilable, had only surrendered to the demands of the fascist Powers. He contended that the non-interven-tion restrictions had always been rigorously enforced against the Spanish Government, including munitions, of which Italy had piled in quantities to General Franco. Similarly Signor Mussolini had poured in masses of volunteers while only action by the House of Commons had prevented Britain blockading Bilbao on General Francos behalf. The proposal to grant General Franco belligerent rights was made in order to please Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini. , .... Major Attlee added that the dictators were both laughing at Britain. Mr Eden, -eplying, said the Labour members’ attitude was merely a disservice to their own cause and—what was far more serious—to peace. He added that information from abroad did not support Major Attlee’s contention that the proposals would be ineffective. Not a single nation in Europe wanted non-intervention to break down as the risks of a conflagration would thereby be inevitably increased. Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal Opposition) expressed the opinion that the Government ought to take a stronger line regarding nations which subscribed to the non-intervention agreement. He urged that the plan be given a trial. Nevetrheless there must be no compromise regarding the withdrawal of volunteers. Nobody must be allowed to drive a wedge between England and France. Mr Winston Churchill emphasized the importance of the fact that if the non-intervention conference dispute had gone to a division 23 of the 27 Powers would have followed England and France. This added tremendously to British prestige. After further discussion the motion was talked out. FAVOURABLE PRESS RECEPTION A WORKABLE PLAN (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, July 15. There has been a favourable Press reception on the whole to the British non-intervention proposals. The Times describes it as a workable plan. All the non-intervention States have now a chance of proving the sincerity of their professions and of applying further and most effective methods for shortening the conflict which is to withdraw their nationals from Spain. In no other way can a policy of non-intervention truly and honestly deserve its name. This may be the last chance of making it real and effective. The Morning Post says: Whether it achieves the full purpose or not it affords a practical buffer against more dangerous clash of rival antagonism” and adds: “It would be rash to assume that this country will get any thanks for such disinterested labour. The Manchester Guardian describes the plan as an honest attempt to find a compromise. The Daily Herald says that as an essay in compromise the plan is ingenious but it sees no evidence to suggest that a spirit of international co-opera-tion will be forthcoming and without it the scheme will fail. The paper adds: “The Labour Party prefers to face frankly and immediately the fact that non-intervention has failed and should be scrapped without further delay. FRENCH COMMENT MIXED “NATURAL DEATH” PREDICTED LONDON, July 15. French Press comment on the British non-intervention proposals is decidedly mixed. , , Le Matin suggests that the plan, embodying as it does proposals from various countries, will satisfy none. Le Petit Parisien regards the plan as clever and adds: “Mr Eden and his experts have worked well for the common good.” . The writer Pertinax prophesies that

the plan will have died a natural death within a few hours. L’Echo de Paris and L’Oeuvre see in the proposals a dexterity designed to prevent their rejection and compel discussion. STOPPING OF THE MOLTON QUESTIONS IN HOUSE OF COMMONS LONDON, July 15. “Is there no indignity which we will not tolerate?” asked a Labour member in the House of Commons when Lieu-. tenant-Colonel J. J. Llewellyn, making a statement on behalf of the Admiralty, mentioned that the Royal Oak had protested against the Almirante Cervera firing a third shot at the Molton. Mr A. Henderson (Labour) followed up by asking if it were not .without precedent •in English history for a British warship to stand by and allow a British ship to be attacked. Colonel Llewellyn’s reply that the ship was not attacked but was merely “brought to” provoked derisive laughter from the Labour members. It is stated that the Molton was

carrying no cargo when she was stopped. The Daily Telegraph says that she has been chartered by the Spanish Government since the end of June for the evacuation of refugees and is believed to have been proceeding to Santander for that purpose when she was shelled.

Colonel J. J. Llewellyn, in reply to a question in the House of Commons, said that it was the policy of the British Government to afford no protection to ships in territorial waters.

A previous message read:—The Admiralty states that the Almirante Cervera signalled the British steamer Molton, from London, which was inside territorial waters en route to Santander, to stop, and fired two warning shots. The Molton submitted, and proceeded on an altered course as directed by the cruiser. FIERCE FIGHTING NEAR MADRID REBEL MAGAZINE BLOWN UP (Rec. July 16, 11.55 p.m.) MADRID, July 16. Fierce fighting is taking place west of Madrid. Government artillery with a direct hit blew up an insurgent explosives magazine. The rebel cruiser Almirante Cervera is reported to have fired a warning shot at a British merchantman off Santander forcing it to quit territorial waters. GERMAN SHIPS TO BILBAO SERVICE RESUMED BERLIN, July 15. Two shipping lines have decided to resume the weekly service from Hamburg and Bremen to Bilbao.