UNCERTAINTY OVER MADRID’S FATE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 155, 27 March 1939, Page 9

UNCERTAINTY OVER MADRID’S FATE

Conflicting- Reports Of

Surrender

FRANCO’S ALLEGED THREAT

Envoy’s Terms Flung Aside Contemptuously

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copy right. (Received March 26, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. March 26. The Burgos correspondent of the Rome newspaper, “Il Messagero.” states that the peace envoys from Madrid carried a Note offering to surrender and outlining their terms. General Franco did not look at it, but flung it aside contemptuously. He stated that he would not consider any terms, and demanded an unconditional surrender within 48 hours. It that was acceptable a further 48 hours would be given in which to hand over all arms. If this was refused he would bomb the city on a large scale.

The envoys then returned to Madrid where a meeting of the Defence Council was held. A message from Burgos yesterday said that it was officially denied there that the republican emissaries had reached an agreement on the surrender of Madrid. The St. Jean de Luz correspondent of the “Daily Mail” states, however, that this denial is believed to have been issued merely because the Nationalists, for reasons which are undisclosed, do not wish the news to be known yet. The correspondent added that the main army was expected to march into Madrid at 7 a.m. today. A report from Bordeaux says that the Nationalists and Republicans agreed on all points except on the request for refuge for members of the Government, which is still being discussed. The Republicans are reported not to have guaranteed to surrender any areas apart from Madrid.