POWERS ADOPT PROCEDURE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 36, 5 November 1937, Page 5

POWERS ADOPT PROCEDURE

6 -Per Press Association-

Soviet Abstains from Vote on Belligerent Rights PROPORTIONATE WITHDRAWALS

(By TeTegraph-

-Copyright).

(Recemd 5, 12.30 5.1a.) % RUGBY, Nov. i. * The full Non-totervention Committee approved the resolution ■ubmitted to it by the sub-committee, but the Soviet Ambassador, M. Maisky, as before, abstainedfrom voting in respect of those parts of the text relating to bellligerent rights. The resolution provides for an immediate approach to the Spanish parties to secure their concurrence in proposals — First, for the withdrawal tinder international supervision of gll non-Spanish combatants. Second, for the despatch to eaeh side in Spain of twri commis'sions to estimate the numbersof volunteers, to concert the .withdrawal arrangements with tlie Spanis^authorities, and to carry out ih a manner determined by the Non-intervention Committee withdrawals from both sides in aecordance with the proportions of numbers serving eaeh side. to seeking the parties' concurrenee the ehairman will inform them that eaeh of the Non-intervention Powers iwll grant them belligerent rights after the withdrawals have made substantial progress and are proceeding satisfactorily. * The resolution further provides:— "First, that, as from a date to be determined by the Non-f totervention Committee shortly before the withdrawal of nonSpanish nationals begins, observation on the Franco-Spanish and Portuguese-Spamsh frontiers should be restored and strengthened simultaneously with the adoption of measures to strengthen the sea observation scheme. t Second, that eaeh participating Government should reafSrm its existing engagements not to permit the despatch from or transit through or over its territories of arms or war material eovered by ihe non-intervention agrecment or non-Spanish nationals proposing to proeeed to take part in the eonflict. Count Grandi (Italy)said that the Soviet had attempted at the last minute to eamouflage its refusal with so-called abstention. It must not be thought that the British plan was regarded as an ideal aolution, but the Italian Government had seen in the plan 'perhaps the last possible attempt to conciliate the different viewpoints. Italy's acceptance was still eonditional on unreserved acceptance by all members; therefore the committee was not in a position to execute the plan until either the Soviet accepted or the Powers agreed to 'measures for facing the serious consequences of Soviet abstention.