THE POLICY OF BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20743, 1 March 1939, Page 7

THE POLICY OF BRITAIN

RECOGNITION OF FRANCO MR CHAMBERLAIN JUSTIFIES ACTION LABOUR PARTY MOVES MOTION OF CENSURE (Received March l, noon) (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 28 In the House of Commons Mr C. R. Attlee, on behalf of the Labour Party, moved the following motion: “In the opinion of the House the decision of the Government to grant unconditional recognition of a Spanish insurgent force dependent upon foreign intervention constitutes a deliberate affront to the legitimate Government of a friendly Power, is a gross breach of international traditions, and marks a further stage in the policy which is steadily destroying in all democratic countries confidence in the good faith of Britain.” Mr Chamberlain, replying, repudiated Mr Attlee’s accusations that he had sought to mislead the House and evade a debate on the issue of the recognition of General FrancoThe Government, said Mr Chamberlain, had dealt with the matter without partisanship or prejudice, in conformity with its policy on the Spanish civil war throughout its duration. The Premier cited from standard works on international law passages to show the propriety of the Government’s decision. He pointed out that General Franco w T as in possession of the major part of Spain, and the Republican forces, through lack of munitions and food, were in no position to make further prolonged resistance. The former Republican Government was dispersed.

Not to have given de jure recognition to General Franco’s Government as the sovereign government of Spain would have been a gross breach of international usage. To have maintained recognition of the former Republican Government would have been to encourage hopeless resistance, contrary to all the dictates of humanity. Moreover, to have withheld recognition longer might have embittered relations with the new Government of Spain and destroyed any influence the British Government might hope to have with it.

Protection of British Interests Mr. 'Chamberlain urged upon the Opposition consideration of the fact that by establishing friendly relations with the new Government they might hope to secure that British interests should not he jeopardised by anything that had happened. The conditions which Mr Attlee had suggested should have been imposed could only have been extracted by war. “yve rmiirj, not exact Ifrms,” said Mr Chamberlain, “but what we could do was to obtain assurances, whilst at the same time granting recognition unconditionally. We had repeated assurances on all the points mentioned by Mr Attlee from General Franco over a period of years, but there was one over which were were particularly concerned. We thought it necessary to ask him to repeat his assurances on reprisals. It would not have been reasonable to ask General Franco beforehand to include men who had been guilty of horrible crimes, but the British Government did urge him that there should be no -general reprisals. It had received these assurances.” Has Won the War The Prime Minister continued: “I will read the answer to our inquiries, it is dated February 22:—‘National Spain has won the war, and it is, therefore, incumbent on the vanquished to surrender unconditionally. The patriotism, chivalry and generosity of Cordelio, of which he had given so many examples in the liberated regions, likewise the spirit of equity and justice which has inspired the National Government, constitutes a firm guarantee for all Spaniards who are not criminals. The Courts of Justice are applying the established laws and the procedures promulgated before July 16, 1936, and are restricted to bringing to judgment within the framework of those laws the authors of crime. ‘Spain is not disposed to accept any foreign Intervention which may impugn the dignity or Infringe her sovereignty.’ ” The Premier mentioned that 19 other Governments have recognised General Franco’s Government, and the great sister democracy of France takes exactly the same view and is acting in exactly the same way as the British Government. The recognition was really an act of recognising reality, and what was wanted now was the cessation of hostilities. Desire for Armistice “Anything the British Government can do to help bring about an armistice, in which some discussions can take place between the representatives of the two sides, we will gladly do,” continued Mr Chamberlain. "I trust that before many days have passed we shall hear that such an armistice has been agreed to. Once the fighting has come to an end we hope that all Spain may unite to repair t-he destruction which has taken place and to heal the wounds that have been inflicted, and that together they will build up a prosperous, happy country, which will be worthy of their own glorious past.” Labour Party’s Criticism In moving the Labour Party’s motion of censure, Mr Attlee denied that there was no effective Government left in Republican Spain, and asked why the over-running ol' Catalonia by General Franco’s forces had imposed the necessity of recognilion, any more than the previous military successes. The main reason against recognition, he argued, remained—namely, that the success of General Franco’s armies was due to foreign intervention. British Lives Lost Mr Attlee considered, moreover, that recognition should only have been given on conditions including a satisfactory settlement uf the claims

of the British Government in respect Lo 24 British vessels which had been sunk, 120 which had been damaged, and 45 officers and men of the

British merchant navy who had been killed. Sir A. Sinclair said he declined to be convinced that the Government's hope that they would succeed, by relieving General Franco's dependence on Germany and Italy, in influencing his policy, would be fulfilled. For the Liberals he refused in advance credits to bolster up the new Spanish Government. General Franco, he thought, would remain faithful to his own anti-democratic principles and friends. The tension in the Mediterranean was greater to-day than when Mr Chamberlain took over personal direction of foreign affairs. The Government had weakened the democracies in Europe and betrayed them one after the other, and Its epitaph might be: “We have eaten dirt In vain.” The debate continues. BRITISH CHARGE D’AFFAIRES SIR R. HODGSON’S APPOINTMENT I RECOGNITION BY YUGOSLAVIA ‘ (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) 1 (Received March 1, 11 a.m.) 1 BURGOS, Feb. 28 General Franco has accepted Sir : Robert Hodgson as the first British 1 Charge d’Affaires. ; BELGRADE, Feb. 28 Yugoslavia has recognised General 1 Franco. i ATTITUDE OF AMERICA RECOGNITION PROBABLE | DECISION WITH PRESIDENT 1 i (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) 1 WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell 1 Hull, said he was considering the q.ues- ' tion of recognising General Franco, and had also communicated the British and French action to President Roosevelt, who is at sea with the Fleet. The impression is prevalent in diplo- , matio circles that the United States will eventually recognise General Franco, but the timing of the final delision will depend on Mr Roosevelt. ! CAPTURE OF A STEAMER i STRANDED ON ROCKS CAPTAIN DEAD IN CABIN (United Pres* Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) ; (Received Feb. 28, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 27 The owners are advised that the master of tlie British steamer Stangrovc was found dead in his cabin. The Foreign Office learns that owing to a gale on February 2 3 the master refused a Spanish order to raise steam for llie release of the Stangrove, which dragged her anchors and stranded on the rocks. The master refused to leave the ship with the rest of the crew. The Nationalists on February 5 captured the British steamer Stangrove near Barcelona and escorted her to , Majorca. The Stangrove, with a crew of 15, had left Valencia on February 3 with cargo. A non-intervention observer was on board. The vessel was ! outside territorial waters when she ! was captured. Britain on February ! s strongly protested tu. ..General Franco.