HELP TO REBELS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 87, 13 April 1938, Page 7

HELP TO REBELS

RECENT REINFORCEMENTS

NO MATERIAL. EFFECT

REPLY IN THE COMMONS

[ British Official Wirelees.] Received April 12, 5.5 p.m. RUGBY, April 11

Asked in the House of Commons for information regarding recent arrivals of Italian air pilots and war material in Spain, the Prime Minister said he did not think there was evidence that the recent operations in Spain had been materially affected by the recent reinforcements. Asked whether the Government had received an assurance that the Italian Government would withdraw its troops and advisers frem Spain after the fighting in that country was over, the Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr R. A. Butler, said that the Spanish situation was one of the questions being discussed in the Anglo-Italian negotiations, which were still proceeding, and that he was not in a position at this stage to make any statement. When asked what reply it was proposed to send to the Note from the Spanish Government requesting restoration of the right in international law to purchase munitions, Mr Butler said that the British Government had replied that after careful consideration of all the arguments advanced in the Note it did not see its way to modify its declared policy of non-intervention in Spanish affairs.

Later, Mr Henderson raised the non-intervention issue on the motion for adjournment. He cited documentary information which he said was proof that the Italo-German assistance to General Franco had grown to formidable dimensions.

Referring to Mr Chamberlain’s statement earlier in the day that the position had not been materially altered as a result of the Italian reinforcements, he said that such an attitude showed either gross inefficiency on the part of the intelligence services or an intention deliberately to mislead the Commons.

Mr Butler replied that there was great difficulty in obtaining accurate information. He was unabte to deny that there had been German reinforcements in Spain, but regarding Italian reinforcements he repeated that the Government was satisfied that Italy hill fulfilled the condition that reinforcements should not be substantial.