PROTEST BY SPANISH GOVERNMENT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 48, 19 November 1937, Page 5

PROTEST BY SPANISH GOVERNMENT

-Fresa Assn.-

British Agents in Franco Territory ARMISTICE MOVE DENIED

(By Telegraph-

-Copyrigbt.)

(Eeceived 19, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 18. The Spanish Eepublic has sent a Note to the Foreign Office protesting against the appointment of agents in General Franco 's territory. The Note says the Spanish Government views the British initiative with profound dxspieasure, as it implies abandonnient of the policy of abstaining from official relations with those revolting against the legal Government. There is all the more rehson for this concern when the insurgents have nofc hesitated to make up for lack oi strength by^direct and openly acknowledging assistan.ee from foreign Powers equivalent to actual invasion. The Prime Minister, Dr. Juan Negrin quelled rumours in Madrid of an armistice when he said in a statement: "The Government refuse to consider any attempt at^ negotiation to end the war, which can only be terminated by the unconditional surrender of the insurgents." • A message from San Sebastian says that the Spanish insurgent authorities have been officially notified that Sir

Robert Hodgson, the .British Minister and Oonsul-General to Albania has been appointed as t^e first British agent in the Spanish territory controlled by tbe Na-tionalists. A Budapest message says: Herr De K&nya told' the Hungarian Parliament that the Government since September had maintained contact with General Franco 's Government through General Franco 's representative at Budapest. A Vienna message says that after Herr De Kanya's statement it was admitted in political circles that virtual diploma-tic relations with General Franco 's representatives in Yienna were establisiied by Austria last September.