POWERS WARNED ABOUT SPAIN

Southland Times, Issue 23309, 20 September 1937, Page 7

POWERS WARNED ABOUT SPAIN

Italian And German Intentions LOYALISTS’ APPEAL TO LEAGUE RIGHT TO BUY ARMS AND MUNITIONS DEMANDED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 19, 7.5 p.m.) GENEVA, September 18. Delegates to the League of Nations Assembly packed the hall to hear the Prime Minister of Spain (Dr Juan Negrin)' in a dramatic speech warn the Powers that Italy, and Germany had no intention of leaving Spain when the war was over. During a vigorous attack on non-inter-vention Dr Negrin demanded the right to buy arms and munitions for Republican Spain. Dr Negrin urged the League to recognize Italian and German aggression, extend the Nyon agreement against piracy to include Spanish ships and demand the withdrawal of foreign volunteers.

“With our words carefully weighed, we solemnly declare that Italy is preparing to send to Spain an army twice as large as she has there now,” Dr Negrin added. He asked the Assembly to refer the Spanish situation to a political commission. The French Foreign Minister (M. Yvon Delbos) in a quiet speech admitted that the Non-Intervention Committee had not given the results hoped for. He strongly appealed to all nations to collaborate in defence of peace, and urged that international treaties be respected. Dr Negrin declared that the Republicans could finish the war in three months if foreign volunteers were withdrawn.

“The original rebel army ceased to interest us more than six months ago,” said Dr Negrin. “A civil war has become a war of invasion. Only the incorrigibly innocent believe that the Italians and Germans could be seduced from Spain .by the offer of compensations elsewhere, as Spain offers them unique opportunities for carrying out their European designs, notably the Balearies, Ceuta and the Pyrennean frontier.”

The chief Norwegian delegate (Dr Halvdan Koht) suggested that, though it would be difficult, could not the League invite the parties to accept an armistice pending referendum on the lines of the suggestion made by the New Zealand delegate- (Mr W. J. Jordan)?

The suggestion that Spain should be asked to become an A grade mandate in order to stop the war and hold fair elections when the country had calmed down, so that the people could decide their own destiny, was made by Mr Jordan on Thursday. “I ask the Spanish nation whether it is too late to do that now.” said Mr Jordan. The peoples throughout the world desired peace, but the opinions of governments sometimes cut across the opinions of the people. He expressed horror at the outrages against shipping and against civilians In Spain. LOYALIST SUPPLIES CAPTURED REBEL DRIVE ON GIJON HELD UP (Received September 19, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 18. A rebel communication claims that the cruiser Canarias, after fighting and dispersing an escort of three Republican destroyers, captured two Spanish merchantmen carrying supplies to Minorca, second largest of the three Balearic Islands.

Although seven loyalist battalions are strung out over a wide front in Asturias they are fighting desperate guerilla actions, dynamiting roads and bridges, inflicting heavy losses and holding up the insurgent drive towards Gijon. An aeroplane flew out from Gijon and dropped six heavy bombs near the British destroyer Fearless; no damage was done.