POLITICAL AMNESTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 February 1939, Page 5

POLITICAL AMNESTY

PROMISED BY GENERAL FRANCO If Spanish Loyalists Surrender Immediately RECOGNITION BY GREAT BRITAIN ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR CHAMBERLAIN EXPECTED TODAY By Telegraph —Press Association. —Copyright. LONDON, February 25. The St Jean De Luz correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that General Franco lias promised a full political amnesty provided the republicans surrender immediately. The amnesty is not a condition of British and French recognition, but the offer will be communicated to Sir Robert Hodgson and Senator Berard, the British and French envoys in Burgos. Meanwhile it is expected in London that when Mr Chamberlain announces in the House of Commons on Monday his decision to extend full diplomatic recognition of General Francos Government, he will probably indicate that certain general assurances based, on a statement by General Franco have been received as to the principles which will guide the head of the Nationalist Government in administering justice in the remaining republican areas when these pass under his control. Though these assurances are inevitably stated only in broad terms, they are regarded in London as evidence that general reprisals against political leaders on the republican side will be avoided. Well-informed circles in Paris say that the day England anc France recognise General Franco, President Azana will resign.

A Havass message from Burgos says that Senator Berard and General Jordana, Nationalist Foreign Ministers, completely agreed regarding the establishment of normal diplomatic relations. A Burgos communique ■ says that the Franco-Spanish conversations ended satisfactorily. General Jordana is reported to have stated that General Franco is willing to take back refugees without reprisals. Penal offenders would be charged in the criminal Courts. There would be' no persecutions for political acts. Senator Berard and General Jordana reached complete agreement regarding the return from the Bank of France of Spain’s gold and other treasures, the repatriation of 400,000 refugees and the resumption of communications. “DESPITE THE ODDS” STRUGGLE TO CONTINUE. ACCORDING TO REPUBLICAN COLONELS. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) PARIS, February 26. The “Intransigeant” declares that the resignation of the Spanish Cabinet is imminent, but Colonels Lister, Modesto and Galan, who fought to the end with the Catalan army, told the newspaper “Le Soir,” that they had decided ’ to Continue the struggle. “We have weighed the situation carefully and conclude that, despite the odds against us, we can fight on and win. The people seem to forget that if we surrender, ten times more blood will flow than if we continue fighting. In the first case it will be slaugterhouse blood, whilst in the second case it will be blood lost heroically in battle,” said Colonel Lister.

PACT SIGNED SENATOR BERARD’S MISSION. SATISFACTORY SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS. BURGOS, February 26. The Nationalist Foreign Minister, General Jordana, stated today that his conversations with Senator Berard, the French envoy, were carried on in an atmosphere of mutual courtesy which permitted some of the problems outstanding between the two neighbours to be solved in a satisfactory manner. Senator Berard, after signing an agreement resulting from the talks, left for France, considering that his official mission had terminated. POPULAR FRONT MEASURES FOR REVIVAL IN SPAIN. LEFT ORGANISATIONS MEET. MADRID. February 25. Leftist organisations at a meeting today at the invitation of the General Union of Workers decided that it was necessary to resume the functions of a popular front national organisation in order to continue the struggle for Spanish independence. The decision is being communicated to Dr Negrin, the Premier. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Republican, Left Republican, Union, Socialist and Communist Parties, also two trade union federations and anarchist federations.