NEGOTIATIONS WITH FRANCO

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 37, 6 November 1937, Page 5

NEGOTIATIONS WITH FRANCO

-Press Asan,-

Britain Confirms Appointing . of Agents PR0TECTI0N 0F INTEREST

(Bi Telegrraph-

-Copyrigtil )

(Received 6, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 4. The Prime Minister, Mr Neville1 Chamberlain, confirmed, in a speech in the House of Commons, negotiations with the insurgent leader in Spain, , General Franco, for the appointment of agents for the discussion of questions affeeting British interests and nationals. The agents will have no diplwmatic status. Mr Chamberlain said that the Government had no intention of making any variation in the attitude it had consistently adopted to the contending parties. They were, however, bound to take account of their responsibilities for the protection of British nationals and of commercial interests throughout Spain, inclhding those south-west, as well as in the Spanish zone of Morocco, of vthich General Hranco's forces were now in effective occupation. Accordingly, the Government had entered into negotiations for ' the appointment of agents by Britain and General Franco respectively. The - Austra]ian Associated Press Agency learns that the delay in announcing Britain's representation in insurgent Spain is due to its determination first to clear up the sinking by bombing of the steamer Jean Weems. The Salamanca authoritiCs have promised a searching inquiry, and Britain is awaiting a satisfactory out*' come. Iti is emphasised at Whitehall that representation will not mean diplomatic recognition of General Franco. Tlie position will be similar to that in Abyssinia.