INGENIOUS PLAN For Non-Intervention

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 142, 3 July 1937, Page 5

INGENIOUS PLAN For Non-Intervention

-Presn Asan.-

ITALIAN-GERMAN PROPOSALS Belligerent Rights Should Be Granted SCHEME NOT FAVOURED

(£r Telegraph-

-Copyright.)

(Received 3, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 2. The Italian Embassy in London Ikus issued a joint Italian-German statement that the Italian and German Governments, after close consultation, are firmly resolved tjO maintain the principle of nonintervention in Spain, but that the Anglo-Freneh naval patrol proposals cannot he considered, as they would disturb impartial control and favour one of the combatants. Italy and Germany snggest that *11 interested Powers should grant' belligerent rights which would strengthen non-interven-iton and have the following advantages : " 1. The two Spanish parties will have to assume towards neutral states full responsibility for the cbnduct of warfare in air, land *nd sea. 2L The patrol system, whieh failed utterly,. would be unneeessary. 3, Serious loopholes in nonintervention would be eliminated ihasmueb as ships flying either the Spanish flag or the flag of nonEuropean countries would be submitted to an effective form of control by both combatants, . The statement adds that the ©bservation of the- land frontiers of Spain should be maintained, also the supervision of ports with observerg embarked on ships flying the flag of non-intervention countries. It is indieated at Whitehall that this ingenious plan to use the nonintervention seheme to give the Government of Spain the qoup de grace and to mahe Britain and France parties to snch action is not acceptable at either London or Paris. Reeognition of belligerency .would enable the rebel fleet with clandestine Italian and German isunport to hloekade the loyalist eoast, while Franec and Britain, through abservatipn on the land frontiers, would cut off supplies o.f war material from the Government. It is becoming evident that behind the Italian and German manoeuvres is the intention to gain a footing in the western Mediterranean while they promote a state of uncertainty in Europe. Neither Britain nor France can allow their interests to be thus seriously menaeed.