NEW GOVERNMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 7

NEW GOVERNMENT

REPUBLICAN SPAIN Negrin’s Ministers Overthrown ARMY COUNCIL ASSUMES SUPREME COMMAND Received March 6, 5.35 p.m. MADRID, March 6. The Negrin Government has been replaced by a National Defence Council headed by General Casado, commander of the Madrid forces. The Exchange’s Gibraltar correspondent states that Dr. Negrin is reported to have fled from Madrid. A later message states that the city is calm despite the overthrow of the Government, which was effected peaceably. The Army Council which has overthrown the Negrin Government in- ( eludes General Sigismundo Casado, Commander-in-Chiet of Madrid, rep- : resenting the People’s Party, Julian : Besteirohand, Eduardo Valls, representing the Socialists, Miguel San Andres, the Left Wing Republicans, Wencaslao Carrillo, the Socialist Workers’ Union, and Gonzales Marin, the Anarcho-Syndicalist Workers’ Confederation. General Casado, broadcasting, said: “We shall resist until we receive a guarantee of peace ensuring the independence of Spain and avoidance of reprisals.’’ He added: “Either we are all saved or all sink. The die is cast ’’ The Council issued a manifesto declaring that the situation had beco/iiv intolerable inasmuch as the people lacked guidance and organisation and 1 suffered absurd inactivity under the Negrin Government. The manifesto violently attacked the Negrin Go/*. nment's “proved incapacity,” adding: “The gravity ot the moment compels us no longer to obey this handful ol men in whom we have no further confidence.” The Council also declared that the | Negrin Government was preparing to flee abroad but steps had been taken ' to prevent this. "We cannot allow a i privileged few quietly to escape' abroad. Dr. Negrin said, ‘Let us s.and j or fall together.’ Very well, so let it j be. We shall resist to the utmost ! limit.” The manifesto added that the Council had assumed full responsibility for ; the administration of Republican Spain and was exercising supreme i authority. PROTEST TO BRITAIN j INDIAN CONGEES. RECOGNITION OE FRANCO. • Independent Cable Service.) CALCUTTA, March 5. I The Congress leader, 'Chandra Bose. I has cabled Mr. Chamberlain as fol- j lows:— “On behalf of the Indian people we i emphatically protest against Britain's I recognition of General Franco as being a betrayal of the legally constituted republican Government. The Government of India considers that the recognition violates international law and morality.” FRANCO PREPARES ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL. TRANSPORT JAMS ROADS. ROME, March 5. Il Messagero says that the road from Burgos to Madrid is choked with artillery and armoured cars, which are concentrating preparatory to a great attack on the capital by General Franco, aided by hordes of aeroplanes. PLANS IN BURGOS AFTER MADRID IS TAKEN. LONDON, March 5. The Burgos correspondent ol the British United Press says that, owing to overcrowding, the Nationalists have frobidden people to stay at Burgos, where elaborate preparations are in progress for the administration of Madrid after its capture. This difficulty, combined with the lack of railway transport, delays the advance thither. The correspondent adds that General Franco has exempted all Church property from taxation, contingent on the clergy not exploiting the property to their own advantage.