BILBAO BLOCKADE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 407, 14 April 1937, Page 5

BILBAO BLOCKADE

POLICY OF CAUTION. ACTION TAKEN BY BRITAIN. General Franco’s Commendation. Press Association—Copyright. Received 11 a.m. London, April 13. Britain’s attitude to Spain amounts to continued determination to keep out of the Spanish war at all costs, says the political correspondent of the Associated Press. A message from Gibraltar states that General Franco’s broadcasting station to-day commended the British blockade decision, adding that any attempt to convoy merchantmen would constitute violent intervention. It is reported from St. Jean-de-Luz that H.M.S. Hood steamed to Bilbao, and that two German warships have also proceeded to Bilbao. According to a message from Madrid, the Dean of Canterbury states that he has reason to believe that German warships are participating in the blockade, and that the British Government should investigate such a flagrant breach of non-intervention. A communique issued by the insurgents states that bad weather is preventing operations on the Bilbao front. They claim to have inflicted heavy losses on the Madrid front.

MUCH PRESS COMMENT

Further Explanation Will Be Called For. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 1.50 p.m.) Rugby, April 13. The statement made in the House ot Commons by (the Prime Minister on the situation for shipping in the neighbourhood of Balbao is (the subject of much Press comment. The Manchester Guardian severe ly criticises the statement and takes the view that the Government should no only offer protection from interference up to territorial waters, but within (those waters. A similar view is.' taken by several other Opposition papers. The Daily Herald, referring to the debate which will /take place to-mor-row, says 'a further explanation will ae called for, as there is more at stake than the immediate question of the right to send food to Bilbao. Other newspapers regard the Government’s decision as one prompted not by legalistic, but practical considerations, neither of Valencia nor of Burgos, but in the interests of British merchant seamen, whose lives should not be risked in a battle zone where they have no part.

LIVELY COMMONS DEBATE.

Franco Intent On Victory. London, April 12. There was liveliness in the House of Commons when, after Mr. Stanley Baldwin’s statement, the Labour and Liberal Oppositions hotly protested at the Government's refusal to challenge General Franco and escort British merchantmen to Bilbao. The Opposition became increasingly resentful of Fascist countries snubbing Britain, and sought drastic action: but. the Government’s case could not. be explained this afternoon. Accordingly, an early debate was arranged. General Franco is now desperate and ready to gamble to. the limit at Bilbao, even to the extent of taking a chance with the British Navy, whose retaliation, he thinks, would provoke the Italian end German navies, leading to a European upheaval. Moreover, having lost caste with the Germans and Italians, General Franco is intent on a spectacular victory

at Bilbao, whereat defeat would further weaken him In the eyes of his Fascist friends. Britain cannot risk violating territorial waters, which would establish a precedent endangering the British Empire, whose seaboard Is the greatest in the world. Consequently, Britain’s policy will be rigidly limited to full protection of all British merchantmen on the high sehs, even to the extent of firing on insurgent or Government molestors, but no British ships will receive protection inside the three-mile limit. The British Board of Trade tonight warned British food ships not to enter Basque ports at present on account of the dangerous conditions. This followed Mr. Baldwin’s warning of grave risks in Spanish waters "from which it was at present impossible to protect them.” A spokesman of the Basque Government described Mr, Baldwin's speech as a shocking surrender in the face of General Franco’s bullying tactics. The Basque Minister of Mercantile Marine, who is now at London, said the people of Bilbao would eat cats and dogs rather than surrender. In the meantime, four British ships laden with food at St. Jean-de-Luz face the decision of returning to England or running the blockade of rebel warships to reach Bilbao. • It is reported from Bayonne that an unknown British merchantman has been seized by a cruiser which issued a radio warning that any British ship found in territorial waters would be seized or sunk. The Paris Communist paper Humanite roundly condemns Britain's attitude of surrender to General Franco’s "blackmail." The majority of the newspapers express the opin- ! ion. that Britain has taken the only I course possible in the circumstances. ■ I'Oeuvre asserts that Admiral i Pound wirelessed the Admiralty: j “Leave It to me," but the Admiralty overruled him and warned British freighters to avoid territorial waters. Madrid was awake all night listenI ing to continuous shelling a few miles I from the centre of the city as the in- ! surgents counter-attacked in an atItempt to regain 'some of the ground lost.