NEUTRALITY IN SPAIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 180, 1 July 1937, Page 9

NEUTRALITY IN SPAIN

ANXIETY IN BRITAIN. TWO REPLIES AWAITED. GERMANY AND ITALY. (United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received July 1, 9,45 a.m, LONDON, June 30. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Mai] says that the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) hurriedly conferred with leading Ministers last night on the grave situation which might develop if the Spanish nonintervention agreement goes by the board. The question will be further discussed at to-day’s Cabinet meeting. There is little doubt, adds the Daily Mail, that if the agreement collapsed, Britain would immediately admit a state of belligerency in Spain and thereby grant rights to both sides. British ships would be withdrawn, thus proclaiming her complete neutrality. France would cither follow Britain’s example, says the Morning Post, or continue to recognise only the Valencia Government.

Italy and Germany have been given until Friday either to accept the British and French proposals for continuing the naval control system or to suggest some alternative. There has been no development of any kind in the non-intervention question since yesterday's meeting. It is simply a case of waiting toty Italy and Germany to show their hand on July 2. when they will reply to the British proposals. The general assumption is that they are resolved to let _ nonintervention die from the disunity engendered by the divergent interests. What will replace it Whitehall is unable to prophesy. Another deduction is that Italy and Germany are determined to keep the Mediterranean coast of Spain free from international control. Whether or not that portends some more direct intervention in favour of General Franco is at present mere conjecture. Herr von Ribbentrop (Germany) supported Count Dino Grandi (Italy) on June- 29 and aroused some hope in the committee by his suggestion that they might have an entirely fresh scheme for non-intervention because the existing plan was foredoomed to failure. Pressed for the outline of the alternative scheme, he remained silent.