HEATED TALK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 162, 27 July 1937, Page 7

HEATED TALK

(British Official WireleBB.)

Discussion on British Plan for Spain ITALY'S C0MPLAINT

(Received 27, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 26. To circumvent the deadlook over the procedure of the Non-Intervention Gommittee, the British Government has prepared a, doeument containing seven questions for transmission to the other 26 Qovernments repreaeuted on the committee. If general approval of the plan is forthcoming the British Government will have authority to put the scheme to the two parties in Spain, The seven questions require the Governments to state plainly whether or not they agree to revelant parts, and the action which it details. Heated exchanges marked an unusually tense session. Senor Grandi complained bitterly that Italy's attitude had been misrepresented in the Press, especially by France. Italy, he said, simply wished to discuss points of the British plan in the order they were submitted. Italy was willing to accept point seven, relating to the withdrawal of volunteers, if and when the other Powers accepted points one to six, relating to belligerent rights and the con(;to1 system. Others aimed at wrecking the British plan, but lacking courage to do so openly hoped to push the responsibility on somebody else. Signor Grandi then made a vejlled attack on Russia, accusing her of delaying the committee 's work with the object of helping the "reds" and embitterjng the relations of the great Mediterranean Powers. Italy considered that too mueh time had already been squandered in useless discussions. Italy was prepared to reply at every meeting on every poinfc of the British proposals provided the other delegates did the same. M. Maisky caused consternation in the committee by declaring that the Soviet, in no circumstances, would agree tQ granting belligerent rights to General Franco, but it is believed he spoke in the heat of the discussion and not necessarily conveyed tho Soviet 's final word. M. CorUin, resenting Signor Grandi 's attack on the French Press, retorted that it had not been muzzled and enjoyed freedom of opinion and could not be cowed intb* uniformity like the Italian.