NON-INTERVENTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 186, 7 August 1936, Page 7

NON-INTERVENTION

IMPORTANT MOVE BRITISH ATTITUDE LONDON PRESS COMMENT [British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Aug. 5. The announcement that the British Government’s reply to the French Note strongly supports the general principle of the French Government tha u there be an agreed arrangement among the various Powers for nonintervention in Spain is welcomed in all responsible British quarters. The Times says that it is really imperative for everyone that a general policy of non-intervention should be adopted. Europe is full of tinder which a single spark of impetous or calculated partisanship may set ablaze. The civil war in Spain might very easily become a civil war in Europe. That must at all costs be prevented. The Telegraph says that there will be no rapid agreement on details of the joint policy unless all of the Powers are equally agreed on two points. One is to treat the Spanish peril as a menace to the general peace of Europe and not as an affair of Black and Red. The other is to re- 1 frain from fishing for their own selfish interests in the troubled waters. Non-intervention will be best for Spain and safest for Europe. The French Note was sent also to Rome, where it is understood to be still under consideration. Belgium agrees and reports state that Germany is also prepared to discuss the best means of ensuring general neutrality, provided Russia also accepts the proposal. Press messages from Paris state that the French Government has instructed its Ambassador at Moscow and its Minister at Lisbon to invite those Governments to associate themselves with the principle of non-inter-vention in the Spanish civil war. The French Government will keep the British Government informed as to the results of its inquiries in other capitals. The British reply is known to have emphasised the anxiety which the British Government shares with the French as to the consequences which might ensue from support of any of the parties to the Spanish conflict by outside Powers. While the British Government would undoubtedly welcome an agreement to obviate these risks, it is likely that they will have pointed out the necessity, if it is to ensure that result, that the agreement should be simultaneously accepted by all of the Powers concerned. There will be no objection, however, in the British view of the declaration by the Powers most immediately interested that they would prevent the supply from their territories of arms and munitions of war to Spain in advance of a general agreement to the same effect. The British Government itself has been acting all along in conformity with the principle of non-interven-tion, and, therefore, it will certainly be ready to join in making such a declaration. if and as soon as the other Governments are prepared to do so. SOVIET SUPPORT NEUTRALITY AGREEMENT Received Aug. 6, 7.5 p.m. MOSCOW, Aug. 6. The Soviet has intimated to France that she shares the principle of noninterference in the internal affairs of Spain and is ready to participate in the proposed agreement, that she desires Portugal to join in and “that the assistance rendered by certain States to the rebels be immediately discontinued.” AID FOR LOYALISTS FRENCH ASSISTANCE PRIVATE VOLUNTEERS Received Aug. 6, 11.5 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 6. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail says that M. Blum's paper, Le Populaire, announces the constitution of a body to raise money and food and mobilise volunteers to help the Spanish Government forces. It expects to raise £15,000 by August 15. MEDIAEVAL METHODS MONEY EXTORTED FROM JEWS Received Aug. 6, 11.5 p.m. GIBRALTAR, Aug. 5. Mediaeval methods were adopted at Ceuta, where the rebel authorities insisted that the Jewish community contribute £12,000 to the revolutionary funds, the rebels meanwhile holding prominent Jews as hostages. FOREIGNERS REMOVED ■ BRITISH SHIPS BUSY i i MANY NATIONALS INCLUDED. 1 LONDON, Aug. 5. * Reports received in London state 1 that the British hospital ship Maine is to-day taking 150 refugees from Madrid and Valencia on the arrival , at the last-named town of the deI stroyer Basilisk. Fifteen nationali- 5 ties are represented among the 468 ' refugees, including the Norwegian ' and Venezuelan Ministers to Spain, which the cruiser Devonshire landed ‘ at Marseilles. The cruiser Shropshire is proceeding from Malta to 1 take the Devonshire's place at £ Valencia. A British destroyer has taken members of the Swedish and Argentine legations to St. Jean de Luz, ’ and British, Swiss, Norwegians, and ' Americans have been evacuated from Santander. All the British ‘ have now been taken from Ronda. 5 The battleship Queen Elizabeth • has left Gibraltar for Barcoinnn.

GERMAN WARSHIPS PANTHER AFFAIR RECALLED FRENCH PRESS COMMENT PARIS, Aug. 5. Recalling the German cruiser Panther’s visit to Agadir, which almost precipitated a European war in 1911, the newspapers with some perturbation discuss the German warships’ activities in Moroccan waters. The Echo de Paris says that much comment has been aroused in European capitals by the German officer’s visit to General Franco which some circles regard as reminiscent ol the Kaiser’s landing at Tangier in 1905. The fact of Germany’s sending the strongest unit of her fleet to Moroccan waters indicates that Berlin wishes Germany to be one of the Powers settling any new problems arising in Spanish Morocco. Le Jour declares that Germany has not lost hope of reconquering gradually all that she lost in war time.