FOREIGN HELP IN SPAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20613, 30 December 1936, Page 7

FOREIGN HELP IN SPAIN

ANGLO - FRENCH APPEALS SOVIET CHALLENGE TO ‘ EUROPE UNCERTAIN ATTITUDE OF GERMANY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 29, 7.20 p.m.) LONDON, December 29. The Moscow correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” says: It is understood that M. Litvinoff has informed the British and French Ambassadors that Russia would cease sending volunteers to Spain if the other Powers do the same. UNCERTAIN ATTITUDE OF GERMANY INFLUENCE OF BRITAIN’S REARMING United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received December 29, 11.25 p.m.) LONDON, December 29. It is reported that if the German answer to the Anglo-French proposals regarding volunteers is not forthcoming by to-morrow, new representations will be made to Berlin, urging the importance of speed. The diplomatic correspondent of "Tire Manchester Guardian” expresses the opinion that two factors are likely to be of importance in influencing Germany’s rulers. Firstly, British rearmament has begun to make a deep impression on Germany, and some German military observers are even asking whether Germany has not already “missed her chance” in Europe. Secondly, the Italian effort in Spain has already slackened and may cease altogether once the expected AngloItalian Mediterranean agreement is signed. This agreement will not remove every Anglo-Italian difference, but at least it will create a basis on which Rome and London will be able to understand each other. Thrust at the Soviet The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” reports that the Anglo-French proposal is resented as an attempt to treat the. "Powers of order” and the “Powers of disorder” on an equal footing in a sort of six Power agreement, including Russia. The German view is that there can be no such mixing of good and evil. AMERICAN AIRCRAFT FOR SPAIN WEAKNESS OF NEUTRALITY LAW United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 29, 7.20 p.m.) WASHINGTON, December 28. Because Congress failed to include civil war provisions in the Neutrality Act, the State Department had no alternative but to issue a license for the shipment of aeroplanes and engine parts valued at 2,777,000 dollars to Bilbao in Spain, the principal port of entry held by the loyalists, by the Jersey City Company, headed by a naturalised citizen, who is the first American to defy the wishes of the State Department. It is expected the alterations of the planes for war purposes will require several weeks, which will give the new Congress time to amend the law and halt the shipment if it wishes to do so.

GLOOMY VIEW OF FRANCE GERMANY'S SINISTER PLANS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 30, 1.16 a.m.) PARIS. December 29. The French newspapers take a gloomy view of the Spanish position and they agree that Herr Hitler is unlikely to withdraw. A noted personality connected with a former ruling house, who has returned from the nationalist lines, is convinced that Germany is planning directly to threaten France from the Pyrenees. She does not intend to send sufficient volunteers to enable General Franco to capture Madrid, but aims to support him sufficiently to prevent a decisive issue to the war. Meanwhile the Germans will occupy a strip of territory from the Basque coast to the Mediterranean, on the pretext of cutting off supplies from France. The presence of these troops would be sufficient to keep 300,000 French soldiers in the Pyrenees. In the event of trouble elsewhere in Europe, Germany could also bomb southern France from her Spanish bases. NO REPLIES FROM EUROPE ANGLO-FRENCH EFFORTS TO PRESERVE PEACE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 28. Despite a request for the earliest possible reply, so far nc replies to the British and French representations regarding Spanish volunteers have reached London. It is stated that whatever happens, England and France will not abandon the non-intervention agreement. Also, contrary to foreign reports, they have not offered Germany economic cooperation to enlist her support. No Need to Hurry Messages from the Continent indicate that neither Signor Mussolini nor Herr Hitler is hastening to reply to the Franco-British communication regarding volunteers for Spain. The Government spokesman at Rome states that it is unlikely that a reply

will be ready before the end of the week.

The draft of the Mediterranean understanding which was submitted to the British Foreign Office last week, has not yet been returned from London. BRITISH EMBASSY IN MADRID REASON FOR CLOSING OUTLINED Brltlsb Official RUGBY, December 28. His Majesty’s Government has decided to instruct Mr G. A. D. OgilvieForbes to close the Embassy, and withdraw his staff and the remaining Britist subjects to Valencia. The rec sons which decided the Government to take this step are that there stems no prospect of an early return of the Spanish Go\ ernment to Madrid, and in remaining there Mr Forbes is not in a good position to maintain close contact with the more important political authorities. Further, as regards humanitarian and relief work, the Spanish Government have now made arrangements through the Leagv- of Nations to obtain he services of such experts as they consider necessary, and will consider the reports of these experts before making any further decisions. Until, therefore, the Spanish Government have received the reports of these experts, the question of organised international relief measures does not arise.

As regards the maintenance of the Embassy staff at Madrid, measures for keeping both the staff and British subjects who are still there supplied with the necessary provisions, must necessarily have become increasingly difficu’t. Such difficulties will be considerably smaller in Valencia, where British ships can co-operate in dealing with the problems of maintenance and supplies. Two hundred Britons are at present in Madrid. Mr Ogilvie-Forbes informed 20 who attended the Embassy meeting that holders, of passports could be evacuated to Gibraltar or to Britain. He advised them to take this last chance, adding that those not submitting their names would be considered desirous of remaining.