Evening star., 1937-07-03

tCOnllnueQ from FlTSt PaSe.)
as allies against Italy and Germany in
the Spanish war crisis-sought fur
ther support today among the q
nations represented in the neutrality
system.
Firm in their rejection OF 1talO-
German counter proposals to the
Anglo French naval patrol scheme
ENJOYS of the three powers hoped to
line up other nations behind them
in preparation for a showdown next
week
In cold rebuff to a plan that
French and British warships extend
their zones to fill the patrol gap on
the Spanish government coast left by
withdrawal of Italian and German
warships last week, the Rome and
Berlin representatives demanded the
whole naval patrol be abandoned and
belligerent rights granted to both
government and insurgent forces in
Spain.
Thus five hours of deliberation at
the foreign Office yesterday ended in
complete deadlock, and the COM
munique then issued by the directing
subcommittee was being considered
today by the 27 members of the full
committee, pending full dress" ses-
sion next week.
While the future of efforts to keep
the Spanish war in Spain hung in
the balance, the battleships Royal
Oak, War Spite and Malaga were re-
ported preparing soon to join the
Mediterranean feet.
Provisioning of the Royal Oak at
Plymouth for Mediterranean service
was an unexpected move, however,
since her new orders Cancelled a sched-
uled courtesy call to Milford Haven,
Wales.
To Relieve Resolution.
1t was announced the Royal Oak
would relieve the battleship Resolu-
tion of its Mediterranean duties
Britain's prime minister, Neville
Chamberlain, donned tweeds and went
fishing, while Europe waited tensely
for the result of the final attempt to
save non-intervention in Spain.
Informed quarters said there was
no chance OF compromise on the basis
OF the 1talo-German suggestions, and
breakdown Of the whole neutrality
structure was still regarded In Lon
don as distinct possibility.
Despite the acute situation, British
ministers scattered over the country
for their weekend engagements as
usual. However, it was understood
arrangements had been made for
royal air force planes to rush them
back to the capital should any i'm
portant developments necessitate their
presence.
Meeting Scheduled Monday.
A cabinet meeting was scheduled
1or Monday.
Russian and French ENJOYS stood
by Britain in her refusal to grant
belligerent rights to both sides of the
Spanish conflict, but German source
said Charles Corbin. the French AM
bassador, and Ivan Maisky, the Rus
sian, and others of the nine-man SUBJ
committee had agreed to submit the
1talo-German proposal to their GOV
ernments
Informed British sources said five
OF the sub-group supported Britain's
stand, with Portugal ION the fence"
Eventual French and Russian rejec-
ton of the Italo-German proposal was
considered certain
Paris and MoScov Views
Paris and Moscow representatives
held that granting belligerent rights
would assist Generalissimo Francisco
Frances insurgent junta. The Italo-
German plan would permit the rival
Spanish navies to fight for control of
the sea, but still bar passage of arms
across the Franco-Spanish border.
The subcommittee also had
planned to consider the British pro-
posal for withdrawal of foreign VOL
unteers from Spain, but this was not
discussed yesterday.
You can't put the cart before the
horse" said one official.
However, it was reported Count Dino
Grandi, the Italian Ambassador, had
agreed to French proposal for with
drawal OF foreign soldiers who have
been wounded in the nearly year-old
war
Comment of Grandi,
Il am aware of its high humani-
tartan character" the count said. He
also agreed to proposed exchange OF
prisoners between the opposing Span
ish armies-a procedure adopted at
various times during the war.
= OF the three British war vessels or
dered into service around Spain, the
admiralty said, only the Malaga act
ually was on its way.