CRITICAL SITUATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 256, 28 October 1937, Page 7

CRITICAL SITUATION

SPANISH PROBLEM COMMITTEE IN SESSION CLOSING OF RIFTS [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Oct. 26. The Non-Intervention Sub-Commit-tee met this afternoon at the Foreign Office, Mr. Anthony Eden (Great Britain) presiding. After four hours it was still in session. It is generally recognised that a critical situation faces the prospects of reconciling the fundamental divergencies which have arisen. TO OUST RUSSIA REPORTED MOVE BELLIGERENCY QUESTION LONDON, Oct. 26. The diplomatic correspondent of the News Chronicle says that a move is afoot to oust Russia from the NonIntervention Committee if she persists in refusing to recognise belligerency until all foreigners are withdrawn from Spain. Another sub-committce might be formed from which the Soviet might be excluded. Russia, for her part, has such a poor opinion of non-inter-vention that she would not be sorry to withdraw from the committee and regain freedom of action. DEADLOCK LIKELY FEELING IN ROME RUSSIA MUST CO-OPERATE LONDON, Oct. 26. It is reported From Rome that Italy expects there will be a complete deadlock in the Non-Inter-vention Committee. She will not agree to any plan to which Russia does not adhere, arguing that it would be torpedoed by Russia. GOOD PROGRESS COMMITTEE DISCUSSION [ British Official Wireless.] RUGBY, Oct. 26. Substantial progress toward agreed action to make non-intervention efrective resulted from a five-hour session of the international sub-commit-tee to-day. Mr. R. A. Eden presided. Consideration was resumed on the draft resolution in the light of the comments of the Governments to which the text was submitted. At the end of the discussion all members were agreed on the terms of the resolution with the exception of the Russian member who was unable to concur in the paragraphs dealing with the granting of belligerent rights. In these circumstances the sub-committee is again committing the amended text, on which all but a unanimous agreement has been reached, to the Governments whose final observations will, it is hoped, be received before the meeting on Friday. The sub-committee instructed the chairman and secretary meantime to make a start on drafting the terms of reference for the two commissions to be despatched to Spain to establish the numbers of non-Spanish nationals participating on either side in the civil war and to prepare a list of the personnel for submission to the committee.

It is understood that the sub-com-mittee has dropped the proposal for the token withdrawal of volunteers. The chairman suggested in the course of the discussion that the committee was now clearly at grips with the main proposal for a full scale withdrawal. It would be a pity to be diverted by a minor question on the details of which an agreement was not assured, he said. The members, after some discussion, concurred.

Other principal developments today were the clarification of the Italian attitude to the status of the commission’s reports on the numbers of volunteers and some modification of a tentative character by the Russian representative of his attitude to the question in relation to the time of the granting of belligerent rights and the withdrawal of volunteers. Count Grand! said that if the commissions were constituted in such a way and the terms of reference were such as ensured confidence then the figures, on the basis of which the proportions of withdrawal from either side would be determined, could be accepted. It can now therefore be stated that the su«b-committee is unanimously agreed that the figures established by the commissions* shall be accepted as final and binding. M. Maisky (Russia) was questioned closely by Mr. Eden on his reiteration of the Russian refusal to grant belligerent rights to any point in advance of the completion of the withdrawal of volunteers and in the course of an exchange did, it is understood, express the view that when the bulk of the volunteers had been withdrawn and it had been ..seen that there were no new arrivals and the intention of all Governments not to send reinforcements was beyond doubt, then the Russian Government might perhaps consent to grant belligerent rights. It will be recalled that the British plan on which the committee is now working provided for the granting of the rights when substantial progress had been made with the withdrawal of troops. DESIRE FOR AGREEMENT THE ITALIAN ATTITUDE RUSSIAN OBSTRUCTION DISTRUSTED Received Oct. 28, 12.32 a.m. ROME, Oct. 27. Events at yesterday's Non-In-tervention meeting; are regarded as revealing Mussolini’s genuine

anxiety for an agreement but all quarters distrust the Russian attitude of studied obstruction. ISOLATION OF RUSSIA Received Oct. 28, j a.m. PARIS, Oct. 26. The Press generally regards the atmosphere as encouraging. Progress is disappointing though radicals deduce that Britain is drawing closer to France and Italy. Figaro and Republique foresee the early and complete isolation of Russia. L’Oeurve predicts a major insurgent offensive at Almeria to forestall the Commission’s findings of figures of foreign troops. Official circles are obviously disappointed that Russia has not made a greater effort at a compromise. WHITE FLAGS AT MADRID MILITIAMEN GOING OVER TO ENEMY Received Oct. 27, 11.30 p.m. PARIS, Oct. 26. Messages from Madrid mention the increasing appearance of white flags on houses in addition to many militiamen going over to the insurgents’ side. INSURGENTS ROUTED OFFENSIVE FAILS ON ARAGON FRONT Received Oct. 27, 10.30 p.m. BARCELONA, Oct. 27. Flushed with their victories at Gijon and Oviedo, the insurgents initiated a fierce offensive all along the Aragon front. The Republicans allowed the insurgents to approach close and then routed them in great disorder by a withering machine-gun fire. ' The insurgent officers were unable to control the stampede. Burying parties reported that the dead were mostly Italians and Moors. The Ministries of Defence and Finance are being moved to Barcelona from Valencia.

DROWNING REFUGEES BRITAIN AND NON-INTERVEN-TION Received Oct. 27, 9.25 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 27. The Minister for War, Mr Duff Cooper, replying to the criticism regarding Spain, declines to accept the suggestion that the war was being carried oq with greater barbarity by one side than the other. “The Government policy is that what goes on in Spain is not our concern, but we will keep the high seas free for British commerce,” he said. “The question arises where to draw the line regarding non-intervention in Spain. We have drawn it on the three-mile limit. We have been told that refugees have been drowning in territorial waters within reach of His Majesty’s ships, who have not rescued them. It is not pleasant to think of neutrals watching such sufferings and refusing to intervene, but it is part of a great policy and a sound policy that we should not intervene.”