FRENCH NOTE ON SPAIN

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 7

FRENCH NOTE ON SPAIN

DOWNRIGHT TONE REVEALED EARLY SOLUTION DEMANDED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 15, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 15. In an interview at the Foreign Office, Mr R. A. Eden advised the Italian Ambassador (Signor Grandi) of an understanding on which Britain and France had initiated the latest non-interven-tion effort and emphasized the need for quick decisions. Signor Grandi concurred generally and said Italy desired nothing better than to clear the troubled/atmosphere, but the responsibility was not hers alone. M. Lebrun presided over an important meeting to which the defence chiefs were summoned. The Foreign Minister (M. Delbos) outlined the contemplated FrancoBritish proposals regarding Spain, and Cabinet unanimously approved of the text of the Note on them to Britain. France favours making the Non-in-tervention Committee talks as short as possible. Meanwhile it is likely that consultations between French and British defence experts will take place. Britain recognizes that it is of vital importance that there should be no threat to French communications. It is understood that the French Note to Britain is extremely downright in tone regarding French policy in the Mediterranean. It declares unequivocally that France has agreed to refer the withdrawal of volunteers to the Non-Intervention Committee solely at London’s request. The discussions must be considered a final effort and dilatory methods must be firmly excluded. The Paris .correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says France makes it clear that she cannot under any circumstances tolerate Italian occupation of Minorca, which would strike at the very roots of the French defence system. Prompt reinforcements from Africa are essential to the French military policy and transports pass between Sardinia and Minorca within sight of Minorca. It has long been an open secret that Majorca is strongly held by 200 Italian planes and that the garrison is a base for Italian warships. The French Government has not suggested the occupation of Minorca, but that AngloFrench warships be stationed at Port Mahon to watch developments. A meeting of the Chairman’s Subcommittee of the International NonIntervention Committee has been called for Saturday when the French and British representatives will make full statements of the attitudes of their Governments regarding foreign intervention in Spain. The countries represented on the sub-committee are: Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Russia, Portugal, Sweden and Czechoslovakia.

FIERCE BATTLE RAGING

GOVERNMENT DRIVE ON SARAGOSSA (Received October 15, 9.35 p,m.) LONDON, October 15. A fierce battle is being waged ' ,15 miles from Saragossa which is the objective of a Government drive. The Government forces, are attempting to push round the insurgent lines along the Pyrenees frontier. Heavy losses have been suffered by both sides. Five rebel planes bombed Cartagena and machine-gunned the streets. Ten were killed including the commander of the battleship Jaime First. Government fighters drove off the rebels, bringing one down in the sea. The insurgents claim to have repulsed a terrific Republican offensive on the Aragon front and to have captured sixteen tanks.

The occupation of eight villages is claimed on the Asturian front. Aircraft from the Balearics again bombed Barcelona. There was heavy damage and many casualties. The northern Republican commander says that the town of Infiesto was savagely bombed by insurgent aircraft. One hundred houses were destroyed and many people killed. Batches of Italian and German prisoners have been released from the gaols and forced to work on the building of the Madrid-Cuenca railway.