CALLED TO MADRID

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 44, 22 February 1939, Page 7

CALLED TO MADRID

SPANISH PRESIDENT EX-MINISTERS APPROVE REFUSAL EARLY PEACE OFFER REPUBLICAN PREDICTION [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Feb. 21, 6.5 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 20. The Paris correspondeait of the British United Press says that the Premier of republican Spain (Dr. Negrin) telegraphed to President Azana in Paris asking him, in the name of the republic, to go to Madrid at the earliest possible moment in order to assure the normal constitutional working of the Government. He added that public order had been fully restored and that the populace was faithful to the Government’s decisions.

President Azaiv conferred in secret with the former Ministers Senor Portela Valladares and Senor Jose Giral and also with Senor Barrio, President of the Cortes, who approved of Senor Azana’s refusal to go to Madrid. Senor Azana read an ultimatum to Dr. Negrin in which he stated tha: he was doing everything to promote peace, and added that when France recognised General Franco de jure he would resign the Presidency and become a private citizen.

A mesage from Toulouse states that olficers of thev loyalist General Staff and members of the Cortes left for Valencia, determined to continue the first for liberty.

According to a Paris message Spanish republican circles predict an early peace offer to General Franco via Britain, the sole condition being that there shall be no reprisals. Reuters’ Burgos correspondent says General Franco holds that he is entitled to dictate terms, including the surrender of artillery and aircraft as a primary guarantee of good faith. The British United Press Burgos correspondent says Nationalists describe the talks as purely informative. There is a tendency to emphasise that no importance is attached to relations with France.

The British United Press Paris correspondent says diplomatic circles suggest that General Franco assured Sir Robert Hodgson that Britain’s position in Gibraltar will be respected The correspondent adds that the Fascist falangists, under encouragement by Germany and Italy, are objecting to guarantees of Spain’s political and territorial independence

FRANCO’S OFFICE

HEAD OF THE STATE BROTHER-IN-LAW AS PREMIER Received Feb. 21, 5.5 p.m. PERPIGNAN, Feb. 20. It is stated in well-informed circles that General Franco is handing over the Premiership to his brother-in-law, Senor Serrano Suner, at present Minister of the Interior, and that General Franco will remain head of the State and of the army.

COASTAL TOWNS BOMBED

Received, Feb. 21, 5.5 p.m. VALENCIA, Feb. 20.

Five Savoia planes dropped 50 bombs on the British-owned port of Gandia. Almeria was bombed seven times yesterday.

RELEASED ON PAROLE

BRITISH OFFICIAL AND WIFE Received Feb. 21, 5.5 p.m. BURGOS, Feb. 19. Mr. Ernest Golding, British ProConsul at San Sebastian, and his wife, who, together with the French wife

of a nationalist army officer, were arrested in connection with the Consular bag incident last month, have been released on parole.

REPORTED OFFER

POST FOR LORD SWINTON AMBASSADOR TO FRANCO (Independent Cable Service.) LONDON, Feb. 20. The Daily Express understands that the Prime Minister has offered to Lord Swinton the ambassadorship to General Franco and that if he accepts it will be announced simultaneously with recognition of General Franco.

COMMON FRONT IN SPAIN

DICTATORS TO MEET FRANCO IMPORTANT TALKS PENDING ROME, Feb. 19. It is reported that Signor Mussolini, Herr Hitler and General Franco will confer at a northern Italian city in order to establish a common front m the Spanish problem.

ROME DENIES REPORTS. ROME, Feb. 19. The Government spokesman formally denied the reports that Herr Hitler, Signor Mussolini and General Franco were arranging a conference. He said the harmony between the three totalitarians was such that a meeting was unnecessary