The Washington times., 1936-11-20
f D { N BLAMES
SOVIET FOR
TROUBLE
Attack Due Without
Further Warning,
Insurgents Say
search and seizure of British
ships until General Franco is
recognized as a belligerent.
Continued from Page II
BY KINGSBURY SMITH

By KlNGSBURY SMITH
LONDON, Nov. 20. QN.SO.
Destruction of Barcelona, Cata-
lonian commercial metropolis Of
a million population, without fur
ther warning was threatened to-
day by the Spanish nationalist
government in a communication to
the British Foreign Office from
the capital" at Burgos.
Increasing international fears
already stirred by the insurgents
announced intention Of imposing
a blockade on Barcelona, Foreign
Secretary Anthony Eden read the
Burgos threat to a startled House
of Commons.
Final Warning
Charging that the majority of
arms shipments to Barcelona
were Russian, the note said:
"The national government,
being resolved to prevent this
traffic by every means at its
disposal, would even go so far,
if necessary, as to destroy that
port.
Therefore, the government
warns all foreign ships anchored
in Barcelona of the deSira-
bility of abandoning it in a
very short time in order to
avoid possible damage on the
occasion of military action, Of
which no further warning will
be given"
Eden said Britain has requested
the Burgos government to delay
the bombardment of Barcelona
until British nationals have been
evacuated.
Smelling Begun
But, according to the Daily
Telegraph today, the Barcelona
blockade has already been put
into effect and WarshipS OF Gen.
Francisco Franco, have begun
shelling that city.
Eden added no comment to the
Burgos note, but it caused indigna-
ton in official circles, especially
after Britain informed General
Franco that his blockade was not
acceptable and asked that a neu-
tral zone for shipping be eStab-
nshed near Barcelona similar to
safe anchorages promised by Gen
eral Franco at TaTagona, Valen-
cia, Alicante and Cartagena.
The latter communication was
sent to General Franco through
Ambassador Sir Henry Chiffon,
now making his headquarters at
Hendaye, France.
Since Frances navy" is weak
consisting only Of few antique
vessels, the Barcelona closure
probably will be the first aerial
blockade in war history.
2 Vessels Seized
This might lead to a serious
international incident, If Soviet
ship should try to run the block
ade.
According to the daily telegraph
Frances forces already have in
tercepted two Soviet vessels and
compelled them to unload their
cargos in ports under nationalist
control
Earlier, in the House Of Com
mons, Eden created an uproar by
losing his temper and blaming
without direct mention of the
name, however-the Soviet Union
for shipping arms to radical
Spain.
While Socialist members of par
lament chanted Shame! Shame!''
Eden, white with anger, cried:
LAS far as breaches of nom
intervention are concerned, l
wish to state categorically that
I think there are other govern
ments more to blame than
either Germany or Italy"
The shouts of Shame" were
drowned out in a thunder OF
Hear! Hear"
Britain, it was understood, is
trying to persuade General Franco
that the nonintervention machin,
cry is still the best means of keep
ing foreign arms out of Spain.
The 27-nation nonintervention
commission meets here again Mon.
day.