POWERS FAIL TO AGREE

Southland Times, Issue 23336, 21 October 1937, Page 5

POWERS FAIL TO AGREE

DEADLOCK OVER SPAIN FEARED ENVOYS’ REFUSAL TO YIELD POINTS SOVIET CONDEMNS FRENCH PROPOSALS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 20, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, October 20. A deadlock again appears to threaten the Non-Intervention Committee, the meeting yesterday revealing that the Soviet, the Italians and the Germans are in the same position as in July, when they clashed on the point whether belligerent rights would precede the withdrawal of volunteers from Spain.

Efforts were made until a late hour to find a compromise acceptable to all the Powers represented on the committee, but it was recognized on all sides that the chances of even a partial agreement were sadly small. The Daily Herald puts the odds against an agreement at 1000 to 1. Soon after the meeting opened Count Dino Grandi (Italy) sprang a surprise by suggesting that the committee revert to the British proposal of July on which he did not think the French plan any improvement. Dr Woermann (Germany) warmly supported Count Grandi, but Czechoslovakia, Belgium and Sweden supported the French plan. The Portuguese delegate emphasized the desirability of granting belligerent rights to General Franco as early as possible. He added that Portugal was prepared to reinstate frontier control provided France took similar action in the Pyrenees. M. Ivan Maisky (Russia) said the French -roposals meant a continuation of the same policy. There was no guarantee of greater efficacy or provision for effective control. Acceptance of the proposals would only create an opportunity for further endless discussion, under cover of which the supply of arms and men to the rebels would continue.

The Soviet, therefore, regretted that it could not accept the slightest degree of responsibility for such a policy, which had already proved its worthlessness and which had detrimentally and iniquitously reacted on the legitimate Spanish Government; but if the British, French and other governments still believed there was a possibility of success the Soviet did not intend to create any difficulties. SERIOUS SITUATION Reviewing the discussions before the adjournment, the chairman (Mr R. A. Eden, Britain) pointed out that the Soviet adhered to the view that belligerent rights must be dependent on withdrawal of all volunteers. Italy wanted these rights to be granted before withdrawal of any volunteers but she was willing to submit the point to the parties in the Spanish conflict. Mr Eden said he appreciated the goodwill shown, but the question remained: How to bridge the gap? The situation was serious, and it would not be wise to adjourn sine die before reaching an agreement. The committee then adjourned until today, hoping that in the meantime a method would be devised for getting those divided closer together. Mr Eden will be reporting on the situation at this morning’s meeting of Cabinet. FRENCH TAKE GLOOMY VIEW BRITAIN UNDERSTOOD TO FAVOUR REBELS (Received October 21, 12.15 a.m.) PARIS, October 20. The French newspapers take a gloomy view of the outcome of the talks on non-intervention. Mme Tabouis, writing in L’Oeuvre, declares that Britain is anxious to recognize General Franco as the legal chief of the Spanish Government. She says that the British Ambassador to Paris (Sir Eric Phipps) broached the subject to the French Foreign Minister (M. Yvon Delbos) and asked France to make concessions. Mme Tabouis also asserts that the Italians have occupied the Columbrates Islands, between the Balearics and the Spanish mainland; and that the Germans have seized Alboran Island, south of Almeria, and have established fuel depots on it. REBEL TRENCHES ON FRENCH FRONTIER NAVAL MANOEUVRES IN BALEARICS ZONE PARIS, October 19. The insurgents are fortifying and digging trenches along the French frontier. The French fleet leaves Toulon today for manoeuvres in the Balearic Islands zone. The newspaper L’Humanite says that two crippled Italian submarines put in to Naples. The insurgent gunboat Dato is reported to have arrived at Cadiz with many dead and wounded after an engagement with a Government destroyer. BRITISH SHIP REPORTED SUNK BY REBELS (Received October 21, 12.15 a.m.) MADRID, October 20. The insurgents bombed and sank a British ship, the Reina, near Gijon, on the Bay of Biscay.