CONTROL IN SPAIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 206, 31 July 1937, Page 9

CONTROL IN SPAIN

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE. WILL STAND BY PLAN. STATEMENT IN COMMONS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Iteoeived July 31, 11.55 a.m. RUGBY, July 30. Declining the request pf Mr C. It. Attlee (Labour) and Mr D. Lloyd George that he should pledge tile Government to summon Parliament in any event before the grant of belligerent rights- to the Spanish insurgents, -Mr It. A. Eden made a statement in the House of Commons adjournment debate to-day. “There is a pledge I can give so far as the present British plan before the Non-Intervention Committee is concerned. We do not propose to agree to any major modifications ol it.”

Twice before, in the course of a short speech, Mr Eden declared that the British proposals for restoring frontier control in Spain, securing the withdrawal of foreign nationals from the two armies and the grant of limited belligerent rights to the two parties must 6tand or fall as a whole. The British Government could not accept any modifications which would upset the balance of the scheme. He emphasised, however, the desire and intention of the Government to persevere with the policy of non-inter-vention as long as the other Powers would co-operate. He confessed he found it difficult to see how, if the International Committee failed to reach an agreement on the British plan, the policy of non-intervention could be saved. If it collapsed, the Government would certainly desire to consult the French Government on the policy to be pursued. If, in the Governemnt’s view, the situation was so serious as to warrant summoning Parliament, they would avail themselves of the provisions in the adjournment motion enabling the Speaker to call the House of Commons in an emergency, but he (Mr Eden) would not have them underrate the desire of other nations to prevent the breakdown of non-intervention.

Mr Eden also referred to the situation in the Far East and expressed the fear that it had further deteriorated since yesterday. 1 The chairman’s sub-committee or the Non-Intervention Committee for over three hours examined the replies received from the Governments. After a general discussion the subcommittee adjourned to .enable the Governments to reconsider the situation. Lord Plymouth requested the German and Italian representatives to clarify their attitude regarding the withdrawal of nationals before belligerent rights are recognised. * The German, Italian and Portuguese representatives indicated that the difficulty they found was in pursuing the discussion in the face of the obscurity they felt in the attitude of the Russian Government to the question of belligerent rights, while the Russian represented je was critical of the failure of the German and Italian Governments’ proposals unreservedly.

“SERIOUS POSITION..” f MR ATTLEE’S WARNING. Received July 31, 11.45 a.m. LONDON, July 30. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Attiee drew attention to the seriousness of the foreign situation. The possibility of agreement on non-inter-vention was slignt and the granting of belligerent rights to General Franco would increase the danger to British shipping. Mr Attlee demanded that the Government assemble Parliament before taking such a step. The whole affair should be referred to the League of Nations. The Far Eastern situation was equally serious. If these things were allowed to continue it would moan the abrogation of all treaties, including the Nine-Power agreement. Aggressive States tended to bank oil the unreadiness of the rest of the world to act. If this were allowed to pass without protest it -would incite the reckless elements in Italy and Geimany to undertake similar adventures. Mr Eden, replying, said it was dangerous to create the impression that, whatever happened, Britain would not act. The Government was fully alive to the fortification of Ceuta' and was resolved to maintain through communications in the Mediterranean.