BITTER COMPLAINT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1938, Page 8

BITTER COMPLAINT

SENOR DEL VAYO CHALLENGES BRITAIN AND FRANCE Demand that Non-Intervention be Abandoned CHARGE OF FAVOURING DICTATORS DENIED BY LORD HALIFAX (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) (Recd This Day, 12.15 p.m.) GENEVA, May 13. Senor Del Vayo (Spain) presented a resolution to the League Council demanding the immediate abandonment of non-intervention. This is tantamount to an appeal to the Powers to release arms for Spain. Senor Del Vayo created a sensation by stubbornly insisting, the decisive debate of the afternoon session becoming a duel in which Senor Del Vayo and M. Litvinoff (Russia) were against Lord Halifax (Britain) and M. Bonnet (France). The session was adjourned to the evening without a vote. Senor Del Vayo alleged the construction of Italian and German aerodrome and long range gun emplacements near the French frontier and'Gibraltar. The occupation of the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and Spanish Morocco proved, he said, that the dictators were determined to use Spain in future aggression. . “What morality and justice justifies you to continue to deprive the legal Government of Spain of its rights under international law?” he asked. “If that question does not receive a satisfactory answer, no one need be surprised if Spaniards consider the conduct of England and Francethe originators of non-intervention—monstrous and inexplicable, construing therein an attempt to deliver them into the hands of dictators.” Lord Halifax sharply upbraided Senor Del Vayo, declaring that it could not reasonably be maintained that intervention was only against the Government. Britain would continue to seek withdrawals from both sides. The resolution was a direct negative to Britain’s policy. SPANISH DELEGATE’S REPLY. GOVERNMENT VOLUNTEERS FEW IN NUMBERS. HUNDRED THOUSAND ITALIANS WITH REBELS. (Recd This Day, 1.35 p.m.) GENEVA, May 13. Senor Del Vayo, replying in the evening, said Lord Halifax’s state- - ment showed than an unbiased inquiry was more necessary than ever. Government volunteers did not exceed 6,000. Italians alone supporting the rebels still numbered 100,000. The manner in which the debate ended did not reflect credit on the League. Those voting for the resolution were Russia and Spain and against. England, France, Poland and Rumania. Nine Nations abstained. “Nine abstentions. I believe in the League again,” was Senor Del Vayo’s comment on the vote. Mr Jordan, interviewed later, said the League should not end nonintervention, but oblige all nations to respect it.