BRITISH AIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 February 1939, Page 5

BRITISH AIMS

MEANING OF THE PREMIER’S STATEMENT HOPES OF RESTRAINING ITALY. NEW SITUATION PERCEIVED BY GERMANY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, February 6. The diplomatic correspondent of the ‘Daily Mail” asserts that Britain and France will shortly recognise General Franco’s Government because the British Government, taking a ralistic view, recognises that General Franco’s military ascendancy is almost complete.

It is felt that now is the time for active diplomacy, and that the time is ripe for a negotiated peace, to which British diplomacy will be directed, and it is believed that France will unhesitatingly recognise the nationalist Government.

It is pointed' out that this imparts meaning to Mr Chamberlain’s pledge of support to France in the event of war. Nevertheless the British Government does not envisage war and desires to avei’t further - bloodshed.

Mr Vernon Bartlett, writing in the “News Chronicle.” points out that Minorca will be an important pawn in the negotiations, since it could long keep the Italian Fleet- at bay, but it may not be prepared to make lengthy resistance in view of the loyalist defeat on the mainland. Mr Bartlett therefore believes that Britain is seeking to negotiate a surrender to a purely Spanish force before the Italians on Majorca attack Minorca. The “Daily Mail” says that Britain regards the loyalist Government as temporarily non-existent and will consider it defunct unless some of its members soon return to Spain. Its delegate. General Jurado, is leader of the broken retreating army, and only General Miaja remains when General Jurado’s command collapses. ’.lt is believed that Mr Chamberlain’s statement is the direct outcome of the consultations between M Daladier ’and M Bonnet and the British Ambassador, Sir Eric Phipps. There have been frequent exchanges and pledges through diplomatic channels, but it was considered wise to make the situation very clear in the interests of peace.

The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that Mr Chamberlain's statement was made deliberately as a warning in the hope it would be a deterrent to the rash campaign against France still developing in Italy. It would thus counsel the Italian and German leaders to exercise prudence in their next public pronouncement on Mediterranean issues. The words “any threat to France’s vital interests” can only be interpreted as meaning any threat against interests which France herself considers vital. Mr Vernon Bartlett, writing in the “News-Chronicle,” says that one of the reasons for the statement was the confidence with which Italian newspapers were suggesting that Britain had been won toward Fascism against France. The declaration was probably strengthened by Signor Gayda s statement that when the Spanish war ended the tension in Europe would not necessarily be over.

The German Foreign Office spokesman said it was felt that a new situation had been created by Mr Cham-j berlain’s speech. He pointed out that Mr Chamberlain had made a similar statement before the Czech crisis. It was regrettable if his words were to be interpreted as encouragement to France in the attitude of intransigence. REBELS NEAR FRONTIER. DEPARTURE OF REPUBLICAN FLEET. (Received This Day. 9.25 a.m.) PERPIGNAN. February 7. The Nationalists have occupied Figueras and Rosas, and are expected to reach the frontier this evening. The Republican fleet has sailed from Rosas in the direction of Toulon.