Germany Wants Action Against the Loyalists

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 134, 23 June 1937, Page 5

Germany Wants Action Against the Loyalists

i— Per Press Association-

LEIPZIG INCIDENT THE CAUSE

(By Telegrapl

— Copyriglit) .

(Received 23, 11.0 a.m. LONDON, Jiuie 22. Ijr. Eden \vill meet the French, German and Italian Ambassadofs t6 disctiss the Leipzig" affair, which, it is feared at Whitehall. may he used by Germany as an excuse for a final rupture . ©f the non-intervention policy. The German Ambassador, Herr von Ribbentrop, is reported to have delivered a virtual ultimatnm, and the fall of Bilbao, the French political crisis and intem&l difficulties in Rnssia are believed to have strengthened the hands of the extremists. At Berlin, Herr Hitler conferred with his war chiefs, including Field-Marshal von Blomberg, and Admiral Raeder, and discussed taking independent measures against the Spanish Govemment if Germany is dissatisfied with the London talks. An official spokesman deolared that Germany *s indignation mnst be taken more seriously. He hinted that Germany may demand the confiscation of Spanish Government merchantmen, a blockade of harbours and a naval demonstration. An official communique states: "The meeting of the four Powers to consider the Leipzig incident unfortunately found it impossible to reach agreement on measures that should be adopted in this case. It was considered on one hand that, while the proposals should be jointly examined for increasing the security of the ships of the four Powers on patrol duty, an inquiry into the circumstances should precede any step directed against the Spanish party involved. "On the other hand, the facts as to the Leipzig incident were regarded as being clearly established and the incident was considered to require immediate active steps in order to maintain solidarity and forestall a recurrenoe of such incidents. "The proposal on which agreement could not be reached was that an immediate naval demonstration, showing the flags of the four Powers concerned, should be held off the coast of Valencia." The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, in the House of Commons referred to the discussions and intimated that the Britisb Government had no intention of joining in any naval demonstration off Valencia. The Leader of the Opposition, Major C. B. Attlee, said that the Non-intervention Agreement had broken down and suggested reference of the Spanish situation to the League of Nations. Mr. Eden replied: "It is clear that the agreement is not working as we should wish it to work, but this is an agreement to which every nation in Europe has put its name and consequently we have gravely to consider the position which confronts us."