STRONG PROTESTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21842, 20 December 1940, Page 7

STRONG PROTESTS

Spanish Action In Tangier British Official Wireless (Received December 19, 7.48 p.m.) RUGBY, December 18. Questioned in the House of Commons about the recent action of the Spanish Government in the Tangier international zone, Mr R. A. Butler (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs), recapitulated the facts of the encroachment of the High Commissioner of the Spanish Protectorate in assuming charge of the police, finance, health and public works service, and said the British Consul-General at once lodged a protest with the Spanish authorities. “The House should know,” Mr Butler continued, “that in the course of earlier consultations held with the Spanish Government with a view to elucidating the full effect of the Spanish law published on December 1, our Ambassador was assured that collectively and individually the rights of British subjects in Tangier would be safeguarded and no hurried economic changes were contemplated. The further unilateral action of December 13 with all the consequences that flow from it is now being vigorously taken up by our Ambassador with the Spanish Government. In particular, representations are being made designed to elucidate the precise significance and practical effect of the general assurance given by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs to safeguard the interests of the British subjects concerned.” Replying to supplementary questions, Mr Butler said that certain answers had been received to the protest and the Government’s further "vigorous representations” were couched in language which was definite. To a question as to fortifications, he. replied that the Spanish Foreign Minister had given the British Ambassador to Madrid an assurance that no fortifications of a permanent nature would be created in the international zone of Tangier.