PRESSURE ON SPAIN

Southland Times, Issue 24421, 29 April 1941, Page 5

PRESSURE ON SPAIN

GERMANY WANTS CO-OPERATION ECONOMIC BLOCKADE (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 28. The Lisbon correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says that Germany is now exerting economic pressure on Spain in an attempt to compel her to consent to a policy of full cooperation. The latest move is a refusal to permit the transport across Unoccupied France of an important consignment from a Central European country. This consignment has been bought and paid for by Spain and its delivery is vital to the economic life of Spain. It is the first time that Hitler has used the blockade as a weapon against Spain. The Spanish Foreign Minister (Senor Ramon Serrano Suner), confident of his ascendancy over General Franco, recently told the American Ambassador, Mr Alexander W. Weddell: “I hope and believe in a German victory. I will stop at nothing to help to hasten it.”

Spain’s petrol supplies are reported to be good. The Gibraltar correspondent of the British United Press states that any attempt to take Gibraltar will cost the lives of at least 150,000 men and the result would still be doubtful for the attacker. This is the view of a senior Spanish officer who has just visited the Rock. His opinion is shared by high Spanish Army officers.