TERMS FOR YIELDING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 9

TERMS FOR YIELDING

SPANISH REPUBLICANS MADRID POSITION OB.K USE Received Feb. 10, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 9. A message from Perpignan states that, gathering for the last time on Catalonian soil, the skeleton republican Cabinet met in a tiny house in Le Perthus early this morning, after which Senor Del Vayo, the Foreign Minister, announced the conditions under which the republicans would make peace. He declared that the Government

was willing to end the war provided safety was assured for all foreigners to leave Spain immediately and all Spaniards were allowed to choose their town form of government ny means of I a plebiscite. He added that everything was not yet lost. The southern zone had not surrendered and was not asking for a separate peace. General Rojo, in order to hold up the nationalists and allow the Cabinet meeting to be held, threw the last two corps of the Ebro army across the Le Perthus road south of La Junquera. This was the last stand of the eastern army, which is now retreating to France.

The position in the Madrid zone is obscure although General Miaja is reported to have declared his determination to continue his resistance. A message from Paris states that he applied for a French passport of safe conduct, indicating that the central zone was preparing to capitulate. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail says that General Miaja is already reported to have opened peace talks, seeking conditions under which the armies |n Madrid and central Spain would lay down their arms.

President Azana arrived in Paris and immediately had a conference with republicans at the Spanish Embassy. After the conference it was denied that General Miaja had made contact with General Franco with a view to negotiating for the surrender of Central Spain. It was added that there was no question of unconditional surrender.