SPANISH “FARCE” CONDEMNED

Southland Times, Issue 23378, 9 December 1937, Page 5

SPANISH “FARCE” CONDEMNED

Non-Intervention In

Labour Eyes

MAJOR ATTLEE INCURS DISPLEASURE

CENSURE VOTE URGED IN HOUSE OF COMMONS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 8, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 8. The policy of non-intervention in the Spanish civil war was described as “truly a farce,” by Major C. R. Attlee, Leader of the Labour Opposition in the House of Commons, in a speech at Madrid, says the correspondent of The Daily Telegraph. “It should have been ended long ago; everybody knows it is a farce,” added Major Attlee. In the House of Commons Mr W. S. Liddall (Conservative) gave notice of motion demanding a vote of censure on Major Attlee for a “breach of faith” during his visit to Spain by his speech about the outcome of the conflict

When the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) was questioned about the visit in the House of Commons on Monday he replied that before he left Major Atlee and the others had signed the usual undertaking not to participate in any activities liable to be interpreted as inconsistent with the Government’s policy of non-intervention.

SUCCESSFUL RAID ON REBEL BASES LOYALISTS BOMB MAJORCA (Received December 8, 10.35 p.m.) BARCELONA, December 8. As retaliation for rebel raids in Catalonia 24 Republican bombers successfully raided the naval and air bases at Palma (Majorca). According to an official statement, three rebel planes and one Republican plane were shot down in an aerial battle. It is claimed that the bombers inflicted heavy damage on the Majorca bases, where Italians predominate. Two hundred persons were killed and 100 were wounded in the first air raid for a month over Barcelona and suburbs. Fifteen big bombers participated, the raid lasting nearly an hour. One was blown apart by fire from an antiaircraft gun and the others were driven off.