1939-02-08 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 8, 1939.

FLIGHT INTO FRANCE May Prejudice Republican Government Leaders Valencia Likely

To Be New Seat

Of Government

London, To-day.

In the face of the latest development of the situa- tion in Spain, a question now engaging the con- sideration of Government circles, as revealed în a semi-official statement yesterday after- noon, is whether the Republican Spanish Gov- ernment can still be regarded as a responsible Government.

It is pointed out that several Republican Ministers have crossed the French frontier and it is not known definitely where the Republican Prime Minister at present is.

Both sides in the Spanish civil|militiamen passed over the inter- conflict have been notified of the national bridge at Irun after hay- willingness of the Governments of ing opted to return to National France and Britain to act for one Spain.

side or the other to establish con- Reports are published showing nection, enabling negotiations to that along the frontier starving terminate hostilities.

bands of deserters are raiding

With regard to the question of lonely farms and committing minor recognition of the Nationalist, outrages. Spanish Government

as a respon-.

sible government in Spain it is stated that the first step în this matter must be taken by General Franco. Trans-Ocean.

NEGRIN TO GO BACK

TO FIGHT ON

London, To-day.

FLEET SPOTTED

Because more air observers for multi-seater aircraft are need- ed in the bigger R.A.F. It has been decided to recruit a large nam- ber direct from civil life during the next six months as a tempor. ary measure. A Royal Air Force Air Observer School devoted to armament training has just opened its first course in the North of England. This school, where this picture was taken, can deal with sixty air observers at a time and there is a six weeks course in gunnery and bombing. Photo shows Anal instruction to a class of air observers before leaving the ground to carry out live firing prac tice in the air.

ITALIAN TERMS FOR TROOP WITHDRAWAL

The

Rome, To-day. semi-official "Giornale Among those brought to a large d'Italia" published last evening an concentration camp on a beach of the Mediterranean at Argeles sur article by its editor, Signor Gayda, Mer was a. column consisting enumerating the following four largely of Germans, Austrians and conditions which, says Gayda, must

Czechs.

..

Part of the Franco flect has been be fulfilled before the Italian Dr. Juan Negrin, the Spanish sighted in the Mediterranean about volunteers can be withdrawn from Premier, who has crossed the seven miles from the Franco- Spain.

French frontier with other mem- Spanish frontier. It is believed to bers of his Cabinet, will return comprise the cruiser

!

NETHERLANDS AND GERMANY

The Hague, To-day. Relations between the Nether lands and Germany are discussed in a report addressed to the Upper Chamber by the Foreign Minister, utters a Dr. Patijn, in which he warning against exceeding the bounds

of reasonable criticism,

The Netherlands Government is

since this might do great harm. conscious of having invariably stri- ven to establish friendly relations with all other Powers including Germany and the Minister expresses satisfaction at the assurances given "Canarias," (1) Complete demobilisation and by Hitler.

dispersal of the Republican The Minister says that the Ne- to Spain shortly to continue the two torpedoboats and two destroy-

troops who have retreated in-therlands Government, in its desire fight against General Franco's era.

to France and who would other-to maintain friendly relations with forces, according to an official of

wise constitute a danger for Germany, is conforming to the will the Spanish Embassy in London. The official added that Dr. Negrin

the stability of Nationalist of the Dutch nation.· ́

In conclusion, the Minister voices Spain,

the hope that in view of the at-

and his Ministers will

7

Trans-Ocean.

“MEDIATION EXCLUDED"

British and French probably

Rome, To-day.

efforts

to

dismissed

establish the Government at Valen-settle the Spanish conflict by a last-(2) Restriction of the activities of titude of the Netherlands Govern- cia rather than Madrid, in order minute compromise are to "continue resistance to the end." by the Italian press.

The official stated that about 300,000 refugees have crossed from Spain into France.-Reuter.

The action of the French Govern- ment in sending M. Leon Berard as official observer to Burgos is scen as an attempt to rob General Franco FURTHER MASS EXODUS

of the fruits of victory, General Franco, it is affirmed, will not be Paris, To-day.

deceived into calling a truce now A further mass exodus of re- that his forces have cut off the fugees from Republican Spain into enemy from all contact with the France is expected. In a message outside world. The present situa- to M. Daladier from the frontier,tion excludes every possibility M. Sarraut, Minister of the In-mediation, declares "Messagero." terior, intimates that as many as

Franco's victory will have to be 270,000 may swarm into France in complete and final.-Trans-Ocean.

the course of the next 24 hours.

The Department of the Eastern Pyrenees has received in a week. no less than 150,000 refugees of] whom 110,000 have been distribut-

ed over other departments. The

remainder are accommodated either in private homes and public estab- lishments or in specially prepared internment camps. “

In addition about 100,000 mili- tiamen have been interned.

ARMY EXPECTED

The main body of the Catalan

of

(3)

(4)

Spanish Republican leaders ment, necessary measures will be who have fled to France and taken in Germany to prevent the whose presence in that coun-circulation of untrue stories about try is in itself anomalous, Holland.

Unconditional capitulation of and the "Reds" both inside outside the Spanish frontiers, Return of the stolen Spanish art treasures which have been transferred to France and the return of gold belonging to the Bank of Spain.

Trans-Ocean.

FRENCH ENVOY TO BURGOS?

Paris, To-day. Appointment of a French re- presentative to Burgos was demand- · Gayda again stresses the Italianed in a resolution passed by 144 view that no difference can be Presidents of French Chambers of made between a political and mili-Commerce who met yesterday in

· OLOT OCCUPIED

tary victory of General

Franco Paris. whose political triumph has invar- Burgos, To-day. Franco's troops occupied Olot yes lably been the goal of his terday afternoon on their march military action. to the frontier.

--

from the French frontier.

Olot is scarcely. 20 kilometres Trans- Ocean.

SWISS RESERVES CALLED FOR

army estimated ∙at 140,000- is' ex- INDEFINITE PERIOD

pected to cross the frontier to-day.

The cost of providing for these

· thousand of refugees is estimated

at about ten francs per head daily.

}

The resolution points out that entire further delay in bringing about

BRITAIN, AND FRANCE

Referring to the declaration on Anglo-French golidarity made. in

normal relations between France and Nationalist Spain would be highly detrimental to French com- merce. Trans-Ocean.

the House of Commons by Mr. NATIONAL DEFENCE

Chamberlain on Monday, Signor Gayda observes that nobody in Italy ever doubted that in the event of war, England would be on the side of France..

COUNCIL

Chungking, To-day. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek is The only doubt existing in Italy, concurrently President of the Sup-. according to Gayda, is whether the reme National Defence Council or- Borne, Feb, 2. British Government is under all ganised in accordance with a re- The National Council has de- circumstances prepared to support solution of the Fifth Plenary Sea- During the last 48 hours up-cided to convoke during the year the intransigent policy of France sion of the Kuomintang Central wards of sixty Republicar planes 1939 certain regiments of reser-which is opposed to Mr. Chamber- Executive Committee held recently-- have landed in France and been vists and to keep them eventually lain's policy and which may lead General Chang Chun is-Secretary- impounded by the French authori-under the colours as long as cir to international conflicts.

the Council-Central ties. On Monday, 4,000 Republican' cumstances compel it.

[Oceani

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