ARMISTICE IN SPAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1939, Page 6

ARMISTICE IN SPAIN

DESIRED BY THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER LABOUR & LIBERAL CRITICISM “DIRT EATEN IN VAIN.” CONDITIONS OF RECOGNITION. (British Official Wireless., (Received This Day, 12.28 p.m.) RUGBY. February 28. The British Prime Minister .(Mr Neville Chamberlain) continued his speech in the House of Commons by expressing a wish for an armistice between the two conflicting sides in Spain, and said Britain was prepared to do anything she could to bring about such an armistice. Mr C. R. Attlee (Leader of the Opposition), in moving a censure motion, contended-that the main reason against recognition remained— namely, that the success of General Franco’s armies was due to foreign intervention. Recognition should not have been granted without a settlement of British claims for British shipping sunk and damaged and officers and men of the merchant navy killed and injured. Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal Leader), supporting the motion,' said tension in the Mediterranean was greater tqday than when Mr Chamberlain took over the personal direction of foreign affairs. The Governffient had weakened the democracies in Europe and betrayed them, and its epitaph might have been: “We have eaten dirt in vain.” The debate continues. AUSTRALIA CONCURS. REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT DISPERSED. (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Federal Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) announcing the recognition of General Franco, said the Government had made its decision in conse-, quence of advice that the Republican Government had become dispersed after the fall of Catalonia and could no longer be regarded as representative of the people of Spain. PARIS EMBASSY OCCUPfED BY FRANCO REPRESENTATIVE. SENOR AZANA'S REASONS ' "FOR RESIGNING. . (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) PARIS, February 28. The Marquis Quinones De Leon took over - the Spanish Embassy on behalf of the Nationalist Government. The treasures are intact, except a red plush dais which was formerly used as a throne by Doh Alfonso. The Embassy record of the years of Republican possession has also disap-, peared. Senor Barrio said he refuses to accept the Presidency pending the decisions of the Republican Government. In his letter of resignation, Senor Azana said: '"The political mechanism of the State Parliament, with the representation of parties, having disappeared, I lack, both inside and outside Spain, those organs of counsel and action indispensable for the Presidential function. It is impossible, under these conditions, to keep even in name a post y/hic’h I renounced on the day I left Spain, because I hoped to use the lapse of time in the interests of peace.”