SPANIARDS RELEASE GREEK SHIPS

Southland Times, Issue 23682, 3 December 1938, Page 7

SPANIARDS RELEASE GREEK SHIPS

BRITISH COMMUNICATION TO GENERAL FRANCO

(British Official Wireless)

(Received December 2, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, December 1. The Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons that the two Greek ships under charter to the British Government and carrying cargoes of Rumanian wheat, which were seized and taken into Palma Bay by the Spanish nationalist naval forces, had been released, and would sail tomorrow. Mr Chamberlain added that the British Government was still in communication with General Franco about other ships with British cargoes which had been seized.

The chairman of the Non-Interven-tion Committee (Lord Plymouth) has advised the Powers which sponsored the visit to Burgos of the secretary Mr Hemmings, that Britain has no intention of departing from the British plan. Urging that measures be taken to prevent the dismemberment of _ the committee, it is understood that Britain informed Belgium that its withdrawal from the Non-Intervention Committee was regarded with the strongest disapproval, and as a result Belgium stated that although the decision to resign from the chairman’s subcommittee was final, it was prepared to reconsider the position in relation to the full committee.

The decision to recall the Charge d’Affairs and Consul from Barcelona and to send a commercial agent to rebel Spain has led loyalist Spain to recall its ambassador from Brussels and deledate his duties to the Antwerp Consulate.