WAR IN CATALONIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 7

WAR IN CATALONIA

GOVERNMENT GIVES LN Ministers Arriving In France PRESIDENT AZANA’S MISSION (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Feb. 6, 7.5 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 5. The Perpignan correspondent of the British United Press says that the autonomous Catalonian Government has abandoned the struggle now that the Catalonian campaign is virtually ended. President Azana arrived at Perpignan en route to Paris, and Ministers have already left for France. President Azana stated that he is going to Paris in order to urge the British and French Governments to alleviate the suffering of the Republican soldiers and civilians. He added that a communique would be issued shortly announcing the transfer of the Government from Figueras by air to Madrid, and his own departure to France.

It is understood that the evacuation of Figueras was ordered after the departure of the Prime Minister, Dr. Negrin.

The prefecture at Perpignan announces that Dr. Negrin and his Ministers left Figueras for Madrid by air. A republican communique is-

sued at Figueras states that 300 were killed and 800 wounded in continuous air raids on February 4. The Foreign Minister, Senor Del Vayo, said: “I have not lost hope. It was impossible, owing to lack of arms, to carry out resistance at Barcelona. We had whole regiments who could

have vigorously counter-attacked against the exhausted Nationalists, but we needed 100.000 rifles and 3000

machine-guns. Senor Del Vayo said that the loya ist intelligence service had reporte

that over 5000 people were massacred and executed in the first few days of the rebel occupation of Barcelona. Twelve loyalist chaser planes landed at Salvaza Aerodrome and the French authorities took them over. The British United Pr'ess Association Perpignan correspondent says a loyalist plaaie landed at Toulouse and three near Bordeaux. Sixty more are still aloft seeking an aerodrome on which they may land. The Burgos correspondent says the Rebels have occupied Palamos. Non-Intervention Breakdown The Mail’s Rome correspondent says the withdrawal at short notice of the Non-Intervention Committee's three British technical experts, who have spent six months in Italy, interpreted as a breakdown of the talks concerning the withdrawal of Italian volunteers from Spain and the experts’ preparation of two base camps in Spain capable of clearing 20.000

Italians has gone by the board. The Daily Mail's special correspondent at Perpignan says the Republican Government is making peace overtures. The Prime Minister, Dr. Negrin, has charged the Foreign Minister, Senor Del Vayo, with the mission of conveying the terms to the British and French Governments. Reported meetings between the British Charge <TAffaires, the French Ambassador and Senor Del Vayo are denied, but it is believed that Dr. Negrin’s proposals embrace the immediate cessation of hostilities and the signing of a treaty for the maintenance and integrity of the Spanish State. The Daily Mail adds that President Azana, before departing for France, is reported to have urged the Government to surrender unconditionally. Other reports attribute General Miaja with urging the Government not to transfer the entire defences to the Madrid zone as he could carry on there while the Government sued for peace by mediation. Later messages from Perpignan state that reports persist that the republicans are considering peace proposals. In connection with this development it is reported that Dr. Negrin proceeded to France after a Cabinet meeting in the vicinity of Figueras. He crossed the frontier at 3.45 a.m.

PEACE TERMS REJECTED FRANCO DEMANDS COMPLETE CAPITULATION. Received Feb. 7, 1 a.m. PARIS, Feb. 6. It is stated that General Franco has rejected the peace proposals which Dr. Negrin offered through Mr. Stevenson, British Minister to Spain. General Franco demanded the complete capitulation of the republicans, refusing the suggested plebiscite, whereon a meeting of republican Ministers and leaders was summoned resulting in a Cabinet split, Dr. Negrin and Senor Del Vayo opposing capitulation. The Havas Agency reports that Dr. Negrin> six Ministers, and several officials <travelling in eight motor-cars, one erf which was bullet-pitted, entered France after handing over revolver and machine-guns on the frontier.