THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 22, 1988,
Page
GENERAL FRANCO'S REPLY TO BRITISH VOLUNTEER PLAN
Demands Belligerent Rights As Condition Precedent
Not Ready To Agree To An Air Control
London, To-day.
CLUTCHLESS AND GEARLESS
MOTOR-CAR
London, To-day.
"CERTAINLY POSITIVE"
Burgos, Yesterday.
The Insurgent Government's Newspapers foreshadow the im-reply to the proposals of the Non-
General Franco's reply, dated August 15, to the Bri-portant disclosure in a paper to be Intervention Committee for the
tish Plan for withdrawal of the volunteers read before the Engineering Sec- from Spain, repeats his acceptance of the prin-tion of the British Association at withdrawal of foreign volunteers ciple of withdrawal of volunteers, but demands form of power transmission which, by the Insurgent press, which re- new from Spain is dealt with at length "as a condition precedent" the granting belli-it is claimed, makes possible, gerent rights "not subject to conditions.”
THE REPLY GOES ON TO SAY: IN A DESIRE TO OFFER THE WORLD OBVIOUS PROOF OF ITS EFFECTIVE COLLA-
·BORATION IN THE LAUDABLE EFFORTS OF THE NON- INTERVENTION COMMITTEE, THE INSURGENT GOV- ERNMENT IN SPAIN IS DISPOSED, AS FROM NOW, TO INCREASE TO 10,000 THE NUMBER OF FOREIGNERS
Cambridge to-day of a
among other mechanical improve-ports that diplomatic circles in ments, a clutchless and gearless London declare that the Burgos motor car.
The Paper will be read by pro-answer is certainly positive." fessor G. L. Lea of Sheffield. London gathers from the con- British Wireless.
tents of the reply, state Insur- gent correspondents in London, that General Franco feels cer-
ELIGIBLE FOR WITHDRAWAL IMMEDIATELY, SUB- ADMIRAL HORTHY tin that the Insurgent cause
JECT TO REASONABLE AND FAIR MEASURES OF RE- CIPROCITY ON PART OF THE RED FACTION, AND A PROPER GUARANTEE THAT NEITHER GROUP SHALL RETURN TO SPAIN, AND ON THE BASIS OF THE PRIOR GRANT OF BELLIGERENT RIGHTS.”
of military operations."
General Franco. also offers to co-utmost. operate with the object of defining AIR CONTROL REJECTED and limiting, as far as
may be
IN VIENNA
will be ultimately victorious.
:
notes, but that he was particu- larly concerned with making a practical contribution to the so- lution of the foreign volunteer problem.
The reservations and counter-
› COMMITTEE TO MEET
London, Yesterday.
Referring to contents of the answer, competent quarters Berlin, To-day.
declare that the very fact, Admiral Horthy, the Hungarian that the Insurgent Govern- Regent, who accompanied by his ment did. not remain satisfied The note suggests the withdrawal antees are forthcoming that none wife, is making a State visit to Ger- with acceptance of the London by both parties of an equal num-, of these volunteers will return to many, was giving a rousing wel- proposals in principle, with cer ber of volunteers as the sole prac-Spain.
come by enthusiastic crowds upon tain necessary reservations, but ticable procedure.
Furthermore, he is prepared to his arrival in Vienna.
carefully worked out a number The Franco Government offers recognize two ports in the enemy The entire city was beflagged of counter-proposals of greatest "as.an
'extraordinaryTM concession, territory as safety zones, one in and decorated in honour of the practical importance, must be to respect the establishment of two the Catalonia and the other in the occasion. The Hungarian guests recognised as proof that Gen- 'safety ports' in the enemy zone Valencia region, which ports are to were welcomed at the station by eral Franco had no interest in in Barcelona and on the border of be used, however, by neutral ship- Party, State and other dignitaries an exchange of theoretical the Levantine front, in order that ping for food transports only.
headed by Dr. Seyss-Inquart. vessels carrying foodstuffs may The only practical solution of the
Trans-Ocean. enter these ports, provided there is volunteer question is the withdraw- sufficient guarantees of vigilance al of an equal number of volunteers forthcoming to prevent perversion on both sides, says the note. It in-subject to obligations without re- of the aim pursued and that thesists that Burgos has not given an ceiving any adequate equivalent.” ports in question within the select-inch of Spanish soil in pledge to a PROPORTIONAL WITHDRAWAL proposals contained in the In- ed zones are distant from the scene foreign power and that it is pre- The note then sets out reasons surgent note, the papers go on pared to defend Spanish territory, in support of the contention that a to say, had to be made to pro- “MILITARY OBJECTIVES” the protectorates and colonies to the proportional withdrawal of volun-vide for emergencies which teers, as proposed by the commit would probably arise in Insur- tee, is impracticable and suggests gent Spain as the country was Finally, after declaring his as-withdrawal from both sides of an at war, and it is, therefore, practicable, the conception of sent to proposals for a resumption equal number of foreign volunteers only natural that the reply "military objectives" in relation to of frontier control, General Franco as the sole practicable procedure. should take into consideration aerial bombardments and regulate again puts forward the demand in There would, thereby, be attained, all the measures for security this difficult problem with a view reference to the coastal patrol, for it is claimed, identical diminution which were rendered necessary to causing the least possible dam-recognition of full belligerent of foreign volunteers on both sides, by the civil war. Trans-Ocean. age to neutral nations and the rights.
although it would be necessary to Spanish civilian population.
The air control proposed by the strengthen this withdrawal with General Franco. further declares non-intervention committee is re- guarantees such as do not figure in
As soon as the answer arrived that Insurgent Spain reserves the jected for military reasons. For the Committee's present plan,
here to-day, the full text was com- right to formulate other funda- two years, concludes the Note, Na- Coming to provisions in the plan municated to the Foreign Secre- mental observations which they tionalist Spain has been fighting in for the strengthening of observa-tary, Lord Halifax, and the Chair- consider useless to mention at this a heroic and victorious struggle in tion of frontiers, the Insurgent man of the Non-Intervention Com- stage until they see a satisfactory defence of western civilisation and authorities express the view that mittee, Lord Plymouth. solution to those already put for- is prepared to do everything to the proposed closing of the fron- Political circles expect that prevent the Spanish civil war from tiers should be permanent and Lord Plymouth will summon the spreading to other countries-without any condition which might Non-Intervention Committee at London, To-day. Trans-Ocean.
limit it and that vigilance of fron- the end of next week. General Franco's reply was pu-
tiers should be atrengthened in or- blished simultaneously in London General Franco recalls that in der to avoid the infringements insurgent note, the "Daily Mail" Regarding the contents of the
and Burgos yesterday afternoon, in the Note of November 18, 1987, the which have occurred in the past;
document of fifteen hundred grant of belligerent rights was The note is critical in particular sections and asks further explana- says it can be taken for granted a
SEA CONTROL CRITICISM that the reply raises definite ob- words.
General Franco declares himself repetition of arguments in support, of the sea control scheme and sug- tions of some points not clear. to be prepared in principle to ac- the reply says Franco cannot, gests transference of control from Nevertheless, the paper adds, a cept the British plan but demands however, great his willingness for Spanish ports to ports of departure well-founded hope exists that the that the recognition of belligerent conciliation, agree to the grant of of shipping, adding that the best note will serve as the basis for an rights shall be regarded as a pre-belligerent rights in the form pro- solution of this problem would be agreement on the evacuation of mise which must of necessity, he posed.
in full recognition of the rights of foreign volunteers. Trans Ocean. accepted, before there can be any He demands as a condition pre- belligerency so that two sides, as talk of putting the plan into ef- cedent that this right, "which is interested parties, would control of the fundamental observations fect.
the consecration of an undoubted on their own behalf all contraband they have put forward in the pre- This demand is based on
on the art
ar-fact," should be granted in all its and with a deal that nothing could sent note. gument that National Spain i not fullness and not subject to condi- surpass.,
The note states: "If, as cannot in a position to enter into such an tions, since there is no question of - The note raises objections to ten- be doubted, the Nations represent- agreement until such right, have a favour capable of discussion; but tative proposals for air observa-ed on the Non-Intervention Com- been granted,
of a well-founded right without|tion, as foreshadowed În para- mittee aim at obviating the danger PRACTICAL SOLUTION: previous recognition of which, free graphs 170 to 174 of the plan. of conflict extending to other coun- Franco declares himself in the from any restriction, the Insurgent Insurgent · authorities also re- tries, Insurgent Spain will give note to be prepared to withdraw Government of Spain would lack serve the right to formulate
this end
It is at present déli 10,000 foreign volunteers provided sufficient personality to enter into observations of detail which they all facilities -compatible with a corresponding measure is carried an agreement such as one now of consider useless to mention until rights which cannot be waived.” out by the Republicans, and guar-¡fered to it, and would find Itself they see the satisfactory solution British Wireless.
ward. Reuter.
FULLER TEXT
FRANCO ARGUMENT
deemed to be a right and after a
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