GIBRALTAR PLAN NOT PROSPERING

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31110, 13 July 1966, Page 17

GIBRALTAR PLAN NOT PROSPERING

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, July 12. Britain is expected to reject a Spanish plan that she should give up sovereignty over the colony of Gibraltar, an official said in London yesterday.

The British reply to the plan will be given in AngloSpanish talks on the future of Gibraltar which resume in London today at the level of officials.

When the talks originally opened on May 18, the Spanish Foreign Minister, Mr Gernando Maria Castiella, put forward a four-point plan under which Britain was asked to give up sovereignty over Gibraltar in return for the right to use it as a military base under certain conditions.

The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Michael Stewart, then said he would study the Spanish proposals. During the recess of the talks, 32 members of the British Parliament representing all parties signed a mo-

tion urging the Government to refuse to surrender sovereignty over Gibraltar to Spain. Britain recently made representations to Spain about the increase in the restrictions on the Spanish frontier with Gibraltar.

Long queues of cars waited last week on the Gibraltar side of the frontier with Spain as Spanish authorities continued to let through only two or three cars every hour.