Evening star., 1936-08-12

(COnI1nueQ FROM E1rSG PdRe.b
phasized that the Government will
"Scrupulously refrain from any inter-
ference whatsoever in the unfortunate
Spanish situation"
Plane Firms Get Statement.
What was even more pointed, in the
opinion of many observers, was the
disclosure that the entire statement
of policy had been read to unidentified
aviation company representatives who
had sought the State Departments
advice on the question of selling planes
to Spaniards.
Officials said informally that the
companies had been approached with
orders for fighting craft-whether from
loyaliStS or rebels was not disclosed
and were shown the instructions sent
August to the American officials In
Spain.
The inference was clear that while
the United States neutrality law does
not ban the sale of implements Of
war to forces involved in civil con-
f1ict within one nation, the Govern
ment intends to discourage such ac-
tivities.
After speaking of the Governments
policy to refrain from any interfer-
ence whatsoever" the statement said:
I'VE believe that American citizens,
both at home and abroad, are patri-
otically observing this well-recogniZed
American policy.
The statement came a few hours
after officials said that France, active
in efforts to get definite agreement
assuring neutrality, had not ap-
preached this country on the subject.
Aids European Efforts.
Informed quarters took the view,
however. that the expression of atti-
tude from this side of the Atlantic
would contribute to European hands
off" efforts.
The text of the instructions reads:
The acting Secretary of State, Mr..
William Phillips, on August 7 sent the
following instruction to all represent
atives of this Government in Spain:
While realize that all of our Of
ficers have fully appreciated the neces-
Sity for maintaining completely i'm
partial attitude with regard to the dis
turbances in Spain, and that such an
attitude has at all times been main
tained by them, it may be well for
them to have summing up of what
this Governments position thus far
has been and will continue to be.
1T is clear that our neutrality law
with respect to embargo of arms, am
munition and implements of war has
no application in the present situa-
tion, since that applies only in the
event of war between or among ma.
tions. On the other hand, in con-
formity with its well-established pol
icy of non-interference with internal
affairs in other countries, either in
time of peace or in the event of civil
strife, this Government will, of course,
scrupulously refrain from any inter-
ference whatsoever in the unfortunate
Spanish situation. We believe that
American citizens, both at home and
abroad, are patriotically observing
this well-recognized American pol
ICY"
$50 Left in Madrid.
The department. at the same time,
continued its efforts to get Americans
out of the war-torn Iberian Penin-
sula. There still remain in Madrid
180 American citizens, of whom SO
are at the embassy. So far 167 have
been evacuated.
Developments yesterday included
the rescue of four Americans from
Granada. The rescued are Rachel E.
Witwer, New York; Ada H. K. See
ley, Cedar Rapids. Iowa: ]. Bruce
Ross, St. Louis, and Leila Cook Bar
ber of Chicago.
The four American women, among
more than a score Of Americans
stranded in Granada since the out
break of the revolution, were landed
safely in Tangier, Morocco, by an air.
plane hired by an oil company and
flown from England for the purpose.
The plane landed in Tangier Monday
and proceeded Immediately to Granada
via Seville, making the return trip
yesterday.
The American Consul in Tangier,
Maxwell Blake, reported to the State
Department that the rescue plane did
not plan to return to Granada. It
was understood that the remaining
Americans were to be taken to Seville
by military plane.