The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-28
British Embassy To Close

Madrid, Dec. 28-(UP)-It was
announced officially today that the
British embassy in Madrid would be
closed at the end Of this week.
It was believed part Of the en-
bassy staff would leave for Valen-
cia Thursday. Attaches said it had
not been decided whether the con-
sulate also would be closed.
It was explained that the Brit
ish representatives wished to move
to Valencia so that they can be In
closer contact with the Spanish
government.
Fifty-Five Killed
Santander, Spain, Dec. 28-(UP)
-Fifty-five persons were killed and
so wounded, 1t was announced to-
day, when Nationalist airplanes
bombed Maliano, suburb Of Santan-
der.
It was asserted that the victims
were civilians, most Of them women
and children. The bombardment
occurred yesterday.
Five government fighting planes
drove off the Nationalist fleet
which was made UP Of IS planes.
Great Britain Hopes
London, Dec. 28-(UP)-Great
Britain has hope that Italy, as a
contribution to Europe's peace, may
offer to cease its intervention in be-
half of the Nationalist in the
Spanish civil war, 1t was under
stood today.
Intense interest was evident ir
the reply which Italy Is to make tt
Joint French-British pleas for ces.
sation of Intervention. It wa
hoped that the reply might give the
first factual indication Of q change
in italian policy. A favorable Ital-
ian answer would be regarded by
many as foreshadowing Premier
Benito Mussolini's willingness to
curtail his assistance to Gen. Fran
cisco Franco, the Nationalist dicta-
tor.
There was no excitement here
over the situation precipitated by
the seizure by Spanish Loyalists of
Bilbao of the German freight
steamship Palos.
German circles in London men,
toned the possibility that the Ger
man government might seek Brit.
ish, and possibly even French me-
diation to induct the Spanish 10y
alist government to instruct Bilbao
authorities to restore the Palos with
Its cargo.
It was believed possible also thai
the commander Of the German Bay
Of Biscay fleet might open negotia'
tons direct with Bilbao authorities
in an effort to reach a peaceabl'
settlement.
German circles here believe tina
Germany has a strong case. The.
argue that for the Loyalists to mo
lest foreign ship outside tn
three-mile limit would be a flagran
violation Of international law re
| gardless Of the ships cargo.
Italy For Peace
Rome, Dec. 28-tUP)-Italy ha
suspended shipment Of volunteers
to Spain pending negotiations 70
general agreement to forbid tn
dispatch OF men to either factioi
in the civil war, persons close :
the government said today.
Usually reliable informants sal
that the mysterious Count Rossi,
commander Of the italian conti1
gents based in the Balearic Island
off the Spanish east coast had re
turned "for the Christmas Holidays
and that his whereabouts were un
known. The implication seemed t
be that he would not return II a
went well.
There was in addition an uncon
: firmed report in diplomatic quar-
tiers that Italy already had starte
evacuation Of the Balearic island
as the result Of its immient agree
ment on Mediterranean cooperate
with Great Britain.
Italian officials never have ad
mitted formally the presence
Count Rossi' and other Italians Q
Majorca, the big Rebel base In tn
Balearics. But private forces hay
given circumstantial reports Of the
activity, and identified "Count Ros
ST" as Arconovaldo Bonaccorsi.
lawyer of Rome. He commando
mixed forces In Majorca. a major
ity of them said to be italian "vol
unteers."