WAR WEARINESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 December 1938, Page 5

WAR WEARINESS

SAID TO BE GROWING IN SPAIN RESENTMENT AT FOREIGN INTERFERENCE. ANTI-ITALIAN FEELING LEADS TO ARRESTS. (Independent Cable Service.) LONDON, December 22. The Hendaye correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that there is growing war weariness and resentment at interference by Italian and German staff officers in domestic affairs. The slogan, “Spain for the Spaniards” is increasingly heard. Two hundred arrests made at San Sebastian arose largely from antiItalian feeling leading to the wounding of the secretary of the Italian Consulate. MEDIATION REJECTED. GENERAL FRANCO’S ATTITUDE. (Independent Cable Service.) LISBON, December 21. Messages from Burgos state that exKing Alfonso has given 1000 pesetas to a fund for social assistance. The official Press states that General Franco is refusing all suggestions of mediation or an armistice, whether from the King or otherwise. ALLEGED ESPIONAGE. ■ MEMBERS OF CONSULAR STAFF ARRESTED. LONDON, December 21. A special correspondent of the "Daily Mail” states that following the discovery of an incriminating package in the British Consular bag at Irun, a French woman and a Spanish youth, members of the Consul’s staff, were arrested, also an English messenger and his wife, attached to the delegation of Sir Robert Hodgson, Chief Agent of the British Government in Burgos. The messenger previously was ex-King Alfonso’s head racehorse trainer. It is understood that the incriminating package contained maps used by General Franco’s general staff. PERSONS ARRESTED NO PAID CONSULAR OFFICERS. NATIONALISTS ACKNOWLEDGE BRITISH ASSISTANCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, December 22. The Australian Associated Press has learned that none of the Consulate officers implicated in the San Sebastian bag mystery are paid members of the service. Mr Goodman, who is a Britisher who has been' resident in Spain for many years, acts in an honorary capacity, but was granted certain special allowances after the outbreak of war. There is no confirmation of reported arrests by the Nationalists of a British subject, Mr Ernest Golding, who is replacing Mr Goodman, and a British messenger, J. Rattenbury. Neither is immune from arrest. Mr Golding is classed as a “pro-Consul,” which is the lowest Consulate grading. Two prominent French officials in San Sebastian have been arrested. A Foreign Office statement declares that the Consular bag has been a regular channel of spy communications, and thanks Britain for her assistance after the discovery. The Nationalists deny the reports of military revolts, but admit the discovery of a vast spy network. It is believed that the official report suggests that the statements from Hendaye correspondents are not exaggerated. There have been probably at least fifteen hundred arrests, including those of a number of highly-priced officials.