AMNESTY LIKELY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 48, 27 February 1939, Page 7

AMNESTY LIKELY

FRANCO’S REPORTED GESTURE IMMEDIATE SURRENDER RECOGNITION OF NEW ORDER BY BRITAIN [By Telegraph—Press Association — Copyright] Received Feb. 26, 6.30 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 25. The Daily Mail’s St. Jean de Luz correspondent says that General Franco has promised full political amnesty provided the Repubicans surrender immediately. An amnesty is not a condition of the British and French recognition of General Franco’s Government. When, as is anticipated, Mr. Neville Chamberlain announces the House of Commons on Monday a decision to extend full diplomatic recognition to General Franco's 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. Although these assurances are inevitable and are stated only in broad terms, they are regarded in London as evidence that general reprisals against political leaders on t he Republican side will be avoided.

A message from Marseilles says that 300 Italians are departing as a result of the activities of the Count Ciano Commission, which is providing them with work in Italian territories.

A Barcelona message says that bullfighting has been reinstated in Catalonia after 2i years.