PROPOSAL TO END DEADLOCK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20782, 17 July 1937, Page 17 (Supplement)

PROPOSAL TO END DEADLOCK

BRITAIN’S PLANS FOR SPAIN RECEPTION OF FOREIGN PRESS COMMITTEE’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS United Ptmr Association —Bv Eicrnic retesrranh—CoDvriebt (Received July 16, 8.30 p in.) LONDON, July 16. Sir Archibald Sinclair (Leader of the Liberal section of the Opposition) , speaking in the House of Commons), expressed opinion that the Government ought to take a stronger line regarding the nations which had subscribed to the non-intervention agreement. He urged that the plan be given a trial. Nevertheless there must not be a compromise regarding the withdrawal of volunteers. “Nobody must be allowed to drive a wedge between England and France,” said Sir Archibald. Mr Winston Churchill emphasised the importance of the fact that if the non-intervention conference disputes had gone to a division, 23 of the 27 Powers would have followed England and France. This added tremendously to British prestige. After further discussion the motion for the adjournment of the House was talked out. BASIS OF DISCUSSION ATTITUDE OF NON-INTERVENTION COMMITTEE Uti'*«l AmxnclAtton —Bv Electric Telpurnnh -Cnnyrleht (Received July 17. 12.5 a.m.) LONDON. July 16 The Non-Intervention Committee adourned this afternoon after an hour’s meeting. Italy and Germany have accepted the British proposals, as a basis for discussion. The Italian and German Ambassador speeches were followed by. Lord Plymouth's introduction. M Maisky did not speak. M. Corbin (French Ambassador) asked for an adjournment until 4.0 p.m. to receive further instructions from the French Government. Outline of Proposals The Biltish proposals for a solution of the non-intervention deadlock provide for the following:— (1) That the naval patrol system be discontinued and replaced by the establishment, with the consent of botli Spanish parties of international officers in Jpantab ports, and also the provision of observers on ships visiting Spain. (2) The immediate restoration of the supervision of land frontiers. (31 All governments to recognise belligerent rights on the sea of both Spanish parties. (4) All foreign nationals to be withdrawn. Granting Belligerent Rights Further measures for meeting the present situation and for filling certain gaps in the supervision system are dealt with in the second part of the plan, as follows.— With a view to the more effective application of the policy of non-in-tervention, all governments which are parties to the agreement are to recognise the two parties in Spain as possessing the status which justifies them n exercising belligerent rights at sea in accordance with the rules governing such exercise, but subject to the following special conditions:—

(1> That the contraband lists adopted by the belligerents shall be identical with the list of prohibited goods adopted by the Non-Interven-tion Committe. In other words, the Powers will recognise limited contraband lists only. This, however, will not preclude them from adding, by negotiating, certain goods to those regarded as contraband under the non-intervention agreement. (2) That as a corollary to the above, the two parlies will agree, in the exercise of belligerent rights at sea, to allow, unmolested, the passage of ships carrymg observers and flying the non-intervention flag. This is not to apply where a ship is engaged in an unneutral service, such as carrying troops, the transmission of intelligence, or a breach of a blockade which has been duly notified and effectively maintained.

(3) That international shipping shall not be interfered with unless it is engaged in traffic with Spain. (4) Any Government which is a party to the non-intervention agreement will be entitled to protect ships carrying its flag against the exercise of belligerent rights in cases where the conditions laid down above are not being compiled with. The plan provides that in o-der to preclude .he carriage of arms on ships entitled to have observers on board, the non-intervention agreement shall he extended to prohibit the carriage to Spain from any port by ships entitled to fly the flag of any of the parties to the agreement, of goods on the prohibited list. It also provides that the committee shall Inform non-member Powers of their intention to recognise the belligerent status of the two Spanish parties, and invite their co-opera-tion. Observers In Spain The committee should also further consider the question of the employment in Spain of foreign aircraft which enter under their own power, and examine, in particular, the possibility of requesting the two parties to accept foreign observers in specified aerodromes in Spain. The third part of the plan deals with the wltlxhawal of foreign nationals, and suggests that the committee should pass a unanimous resolution in favour o' their withdrawal. It suggests that commissions be

sent out to both parties in Spain to supervlise the withdrawal of foreign nationals as soon as possible, and that all governments should collaborate in the matter. Stages of Pn posals The fourth part of the plan proposes that the programme be carried out in the following stages: (1) The establishment of officers in Spanish ports, and the withdrawal of the naval patrol as soon as possible. (2) The ’stablistiment of commissions to supervise the withdrawal of foreign nationals. (3) The recognition of belligerent rights. In the sixth and Anal part of the plan it is suggested that the British Government be authorised to enter ’ immediately into discussion with the two parties in Spain on the pro- > 1 posals. I FOREIGN PRESS COMMENT 1 I < SOMEWHAT NON-COMMITTAL I British Official Wireless RUGBY, July 15. ' So far foreign comment upon the British plan has been somewhat non- , commital, but on the whole not ' unfavourable. It is expected that most of the ’ representatives at to-morrow’s meeting of the Non-Intervention Committee will be in a position to Indicate, on behalf of their Governments, at least j preliminary observations on the , scheme.

Comment of French Press The French Press comment on the British non-intervention proposals, is decidedly mixed. “Le Matin” suggests that the plan embodying as it does proposals from various countries, will satisfy none. "Le Petit Parisien’’ regards the plan as clever, and adds that Mr Anthony Eden and his experts worked well for the common good. “Pertinax” prophesies that the plan will have died a natural death within a few hours. “Echo de Paris’’ and “I’Oeuvre” see in the proposals dexterity designed to prevent rejection, and compel discussion. ITALO-GERMAN REACTIONS SITUATION HEDGED WITH DIFFICULTIES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 17, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, July 16.

The Paris correspondent of “The Manchester Guardian” says: The French Government is critical of the proposals. Certain features of the plan are considered to come nearer to the Italo-German than the Franco-British proposals. Hence the pleasure in Berlin and Rome has not caused surprise. France will not submit to international controllers if the Portuguese frontier is protected by mere British “observers.” The phrase "substantial progress in the withdrawal of foreign troops” as a condition for belligerent rights is considered over vague. The French Government also insists that belligerent rights allow only General Franco and not Italy and Germany to interfere with French shipping. The Cabinet is inflexible that the withdraw al of volunteers must be the cornerstone of the non-intervention scheme, otherwise there will be no question of France recognising belligerency. The French press is gloomy about any results, except interminable discussions and negotiations. The official comment in Berlin continues to be reserved, but the difficulty of withdrawing volunteers is stressed. The Rome press regards the British plan as evidence of a change of front which is discomfiting France. It is understood that Signor Grandi will insist that no faith can be placed in the word of the Spanish Government, and will stress that technical difficulties in the withdrawal of volunteers are insuperable.