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THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 24, 1987.
GERMANY STATES HER
CASE
Long Memorandum Explaining Reasons For Action
OFFENDED BY DOUBTS CAST ON LEIPZIG INCIDENT
(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL”)
Berlin, To-day.
"Germany has no intention of leaving the non- intervention committee for the time being, but will merely withdraw from the control plan”
all the German proposals found would have taken such a long time firm support by Italy.
that further collaboration of the "Objections were raised by Bri- Powers in question would not only tain and France, who declared that be rendered illusory but also in the the statement of the facts as made eyes of Valencia would assume by the German Government was perfectly ridiculous character. disputed by the Valencia Govern- ment, and that accordingly an in- vestigation would have first to take place.
"In other words, the Control Commission, casts doubts on the statements made by one of the Powers participating in the sea control by requiring an investi- gation inte their correctness. "This demand for an investiga tion is in direct contravention
In these words the German Foreign Minister, Baron von Neurath set at rest fears that non- intervention undertakings had finally collapsed, the agreement of June 12.* when he received the British Ambassador, Sir Nevile Henderson, yesterday.
~ THE PRESENT DECISION OF THE REICH GOV- ERNMENT, IT IS POINTED OUT IN WELL-INFORMED CIRCLES, CONSISTS SOLELY IN WITHDRAWAL FROM THE SEA CONTROL, AND RESTORES TO GER- MANY COMPLETE FREEDOM OF ACTION IN CASE OF AGGRESSIVE SURPRISES DIRECTED AGAINST GERMAN WARSHIPS.
even
of
CORRECTNESS GUARANTEED "Such a procedure under the cir cumstances in question could but result in
encouragement of the "pirates" to continue their crimin- al assaults..
"For the facts themselves are clearly and distinctly stated in the report of the commander of Leipzig.
་
“In order to do their utmost to bring about an agreement, the German Government in the course of the London delibera- tions, consented not only to refrain from any practical retaliation but also to forego internment of Spanish sub- marines, and Insisted only on an Immediate joint naval de- monstration and a warning to
also, declared that be sides this immediate masure, the investigation demanded by the ish and French Governments British should be undertaken.
"These moderated demands, how- ever, were also rejected by the British and French Governments.
AGREEMENT MEANINGLESS "It is therefore clear that under the such circumstances the agreement The British Foreign Secretary, ¡control commission nor non-interven-|
of June 12 is not only meaningless Mr. Anthony Eden, made
"The correctness ation committee could come to
of the state-but is positively injurious statement to this effect. in the the smallest concerted decision, it naval authorities and the German ment is guaranteed by the German -House of Commons yesterday. took the necessary and only conceiv- Trans-Ocean.
Government. able step, in the case of a great
*"Over Power, of taking relatiatory mea rectness A lengthy statement justify-sures, not for the sake of revenge, ing German withdrawal from the for by the bombardment of Almeria control scheme has been issued it was not possible either to resur- by the semi-official German news rect those killed or to make the in- agency.
jured whole again.
Berlin, To-day.
The statement expounds the prin- ciples involved which determined
the German attitude.
"The German -people and German Government have only one desire at heart-that Spain · may recover her independence and liberty and that she suc- ceed in healing the wounds she has suffered through the pre-. sent civil conflict.
r and above this, the cor- confirmed by investigation to which the statements can be Germany agrees.
"The bombardment, instead, was carried out in order that through this retaliation Valencia would be taught that further attacks on Ger- be expected but was a matter man control vessels should not take place.
course..
“Under such condition's no kind of control is possible and participation therein for a self- respecting and responsible Power intolerable. -
The German Government has
ITALIAN TIE
therefore decided that from now on "It is intolerable to the Ger.it will protect its own interests man Government that its state- with the means that alone will ments should be doubted merely induce Valencia. to refrain from because they are denied by Va- such assaults. lencia.
The German Government is "For this denial was not only to filled with the greatest satisfaction of that its views coincide completely with those of the Italian Govern- "The four Powers participating in
COLLABORATION ILLUSORY
ment, as in fact has proved so “Execution of such an interna frequently to be the case where the sea control in Spanish waters tional investigation would be prac- practical co-operation of the two had, "under the influence of the im- tically speaking totally impossible, countries in the interests of main- pression created by these occurren- and besides, as had been shown by tenance of ordered conditions in ces, agreed on June 12 that from similar procedure of other bodies, Europe and the cause of peace are "It is of decisive significance then onwards further
attacks on for instance, the League of Nations, concerned."-Trans-Ocean. that Nazi Germany has neither de- control vessels would be regarded as sired nor attempted to turn Spain their common affair and that an into a province of the Reich, or a agreement would be at once reach- regional section, of the Nazi move-ed as to measures which should be ment, whereas Bolshevist Moscow taken to meet the case concerned. has endeavoured here as every- where else to convert Spain into a section of the Comintern.
DECISIVE SIGNIFICANCE
SPECIAL RIGHTS
"At the same time, however, it was determined that in deciding the
*To prevent this lay, however, measures to be taken, that that just as much in the interests of Power most immediately affected Europe and indeed of the whole would naturally be specially consi- world as it was naturally in the dered. interests of Germany."
"After the German command had GERMANY'S INFLUENCE been issued that fire be opened im- "From the very first Germany mediately on all approaching Re- used her influence to ensure that the publican ships or planes, and at- regrettable internal conflict in Spain tacks in future thus made virtually should remain the exclusive affair impossible, Valencia apparently de- of Spaniards alone that is to say cided to attack control vessels with that Germany, at the outset of the submarines. war, opposed every attempt at poli- tical, financial, military or other in- terference.
"In pursuance of these · endeav- ours, Germany was furthermore pre- pared to participate in practical con- trol measures which, however, have remained unsuccessful.
now attentab
"No doubt about the German statements concerning the Leip- zig could be raised from any quarter unless it were seriously to be maintained that the only valid proof of such an attack that could be accepted would be the "successful annihilation of the control ship in question. "It is truly a diabolical idea- "One particularly unlucky shot fired at the Leipzig might not have meant the death of 31 but of 500 or more human beings.
"In spite of this, Valencia has take certain steps to disturb sea control over the "Red" part of Spain, and to attack by all available means ships engaged in that particular sector. * FREQUENT ATTACKS After reference to attacks on Ger- ANGLO-FRENCH OBJECTIONS man, British and Italian vessels, în "In accordance with the agree- which six Italian officers were killment reached on June 12, the Reich ed, and to the Deutschland episode, Government asked the other the statement continues:
control Powers to arrive at an im- "Since the German Government mediate decision as to the counter- was firmly convinced that in this measures to be taken in common. case, as in the others, neither the "In the discussions that followed,
sea
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