The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-24
BY KINGSBURY SMITH
Ccopyright. 1887. by International
News Service)

., LONDON, June pa virtual
blockade of Spanish government
ports on the Mediterranean has
been established by Germany and
Italy, according to information re-
ceived in London today.
Foreign Secretary An h ony
Eden summoned Britain's Imperial
Defense Committee to an hours
meeting at the foreign office this
morning.
The specific subject discussed
was the present disposition of
British forces in the Mediterra-
mean.
The meeting was regarded as a
precautionary measure" accord
ing to sources close to the foreign
office.
Bingham to See Eden
United States Ambassador Rob
ert w. Bingham planned to call
on Eden this afternoon to ascer-
tain the seriousness of the Sltua.
ton.
Eden also will confer with
French Ambassador Charles Cor
bin this afternoon regarding
Anglo-French steps on the non
intervention situation as result
of Italy's and Germany's with
drawal from the patrol.
Despite withdrawal of Germany
and Italy from the neutrality con-
troll scheme. italian and German
ships are not only maintaining
their patrol around SPANS coasts,
but are strengthening their naval
forces off Spanish waters at the
point of the blockade.
Independent Patrol
The virtual blockade is being
carried out in the guiSe of an in
dependent Italo-German control
system, pending decision of the
non-intervention committee on
what to do about Italy's and Ger
manys withdrawal from the COM
mittee's control schem. Neither
Germany nor, Italy withdrew from
the committee itself.
Furthermore. there were indi-
cations both Germany and Italy
oppose replacement of German
and Italian warshipS by patrol
ships of other powers in the COM
mittee's neutrality patrol around
Spain.
Rome already has let it be
known automatically that she is
maintaining her warships off
Spanish waters owing to the lex
listing state of insecurity in the
Mediterranean" Germany has
taken a similar attitude.
Reich Increasing Forces
According to latest reports to
the British admiralty, the German
naval forces off Spain now are
more powerful than ever and are
steadily being increased.
Definite indications were that
Berlin and Rome have no inten-
ton of permitting the Valencia
government to take advantage Of
any temporary gap in the control
scheme to rush arms shipments
into loyalist territory.
Officials here consider it most
likely the German and Italian
ships will halt any ship not fly
ing a control flag, and it also
is feared the German and Italian
vessels may sink on sight any
Spanish government warshlps at
tempting to run the blockade.
Even in the event the noninter-
vention committee assigns other
warships to the zones patrolled by
the Germans and italians under
the control scheme. it is believed
the Italian and German vessels
will remain.
Gravity Unabated
: The situation still is regarded
. as grave, and it is doubted here
whether Chancellor Hitler will per-
. NIT British Foreign Secretary An
: thony Eden to score a complete
: diplomatic victory The French,
= it was learned, are extremely ap-
: prehensive.
Eden, speaking for the British
government, issued a warning to
e. Germany that any Italo-German
:. naval demonstration or blockade
: of Spain would be regarded by the
British ernm en- t as an I'M
= friendly act.
= The warning was delivered by
=. Eden to German A m b SIS a d o r
p Joachim Won Ribbentrop Won
Ribbentrop flew to Berlin to re-
: port to Chancellor Hitler on the