BRITISH MEDIATION IN SPAIN.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 300, 3 December 1936, Page 5

BRITISH MEDIATION IN SPAIN.

GOVERNMENT ACTION POSSIBLE AT RIGHT TIME. FRANCE AND BRITAIN HAVE CONSIDERED POSITION. EXTENSION OF NON-INTERVENTION PACT TO COVER VOLUNTEERS. _. T z CPress Association—Copyright.) LONDON, December 2. Mr. Eden in the House of Commons hinted at mediation in Spain by the British Government, saying: “If the opportunity occurs or we think the moment propitious to make an attempt we shall make it whether we succeed or fail. I only ask that the moment and the occasion should be left to our judgment.” ’ According to the Manchester Guardian’s diplomatic correspondent, preliminary Anglo-French discussions regarding mediation were held in London on November 21. The idea was to secure German, Italian and Russian support. The League Council was to be informed but was not to participate in the negotiations. The Paris correspondent of The Times states that if the French Government succeeds in securing an extension of the non-interven-tion pact to cover volunteer fighters, there is reason to believe they would seek to mediate in Spain with British co-operation if there seemed any chance that an armistice might be arranged, but these hopes are acknowledge to be frail. The Manchester Guardian reports that the German authorities recently called for volunteers for service in Spain at high rates of pay. The response was considerable. These menare now arriving in Spain. The Soviet has protested strongly to Italy against the searching of several Russian ships during visits to Italian ports.