NO FINALITY YET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1938, Page 8

NO FINALITY YET

ATTACKS ON BRITISH SHIPS IN SPAIN Mr Chamberlain Questioned in House NEGOTIATIONS WITH GENERAL FRANCO (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.12 a.m.) RUGBY, July 7. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr C. R. Attlee) in the House of Commons, asked the Prime Minister (Mr N. Chamberlain) whether he could now make a full statement with reference to General Franco s Mr Chamberlain said he was not in a position to do so, since consultations were not yet complete, and added: “Britain has found it necessary to ask Burgos to explain the exact meaning which Burgos attaches to its disclaimer of an intention io make deliberate attacks on British ships. Britain has frequently expressed its view that the deliberate bombing and sinking of merchantmen has never been admitted by international law, still less the machine-gunning of their bridges and decks. I might add that Burgos has intimated its intention to make practical proposals with the object of humanising warfare as far as possible, and I need hardly say that Britain will give any such proposals most sympathetic consideration. “Sir John Simon.” Mr Chamberlain added, “has already informed the House of Burgos’s suggestion for the establishment, under certain restrictive conditions, of a safe port at Almeria. A preliminary examination of this suggestion has revealed certain difficulties, such as deficiencies m the facilities afforded by such a plan for the discharge of vessels, communications with the rest of Spain and other factors. The position at the moment is that the Government has under consideration the views of British shipping interests on the subject. A reply to the inquiry which we addressed to Burgos must of necessity take.'several days, but I will keep the House informed of any further developments.”