Evening star., 1937-10-10

ONDON, october 9.-T1he text OF
the Italian note replying to the
Franco-British proposal OF a
- conference on withdrawal Of
foreign volunteers from the Spanish
civil war:
The Royal ministry Of foreign af-
fairs have the honor to refer to the
communication of his Brittanic Maj
estys Embassy, dated the second in
slant October ~.
The Fascist government willingly
take note Of the assurance furnished
by the British government regarding
the political independence of Spain.
For themselves, they need not recall
the assurances furnished on repeated
occasions, in the most solemn fash
ion, regarding the political independ-
ence and, consequently, the territorial
integrity, of Spain. its mainland, its
islands and its colonies.
The Fascist government fully share
the hope expressed by the British
government that the internal strug-
giles Of Spain may cease to be a cause
OF suspicion and friction between
other nations and that the situation
other fields. also, progress may be real
lied toward a general detente lessen-
ing Of tension).
Ready to Examine Means.
They (the Italian governmen) are
ready, with every possible goodwill, to
examine, as they have always done in
the past, all means which may be
thought suitable to render the policy
OF non intervention effective.
Among the elements constituting
this policy, the British government lay
particular emphasis upon the question
Of volunteers and their withdrawal.
Nevertheless, in order to indicate
clearly individual political positions
and responsibilities deriving from them
and not for any untimely emphasis
Of polemic, it is opportune to recall
how it was actually Italy, together
with Germany, who was the first to
draw attention to the question of VOL
unteers and to insist that their dis
patch should be forbidden and. subse-
quently. that provisions should be
taken for their withdrawal.
The italian government claims for
itself and for the German gov
ernment the merit of initiative d.
rected toward consideration of this
question as one of the indispensable
elements Of any policy Of non-inter-
vention.
Recall Explicit Declaration.
In so far as they themselves are
concerned they recall the explicit
declaration made to the French AM
bassador by the Italian foreign minis
ter so long ago as August, 1886, to
the declarations obtained in the note
verbale Of January 7, 1887, addressed
to the embassies of Great Britain and
France. to that Of January 25, 1887.
addressed only to the Embassy of
Great Britain and, finally, to the re-
peated declaration made by the Ital-
ian representative on the Committee
Of Non-Intervention in London on
the occasion Of the last discussion Of
this question.
The Fascist government has the
honor to confirm that in so far as
concerns the whole question of nom
intervention in its various aspects and
elements. they maintain the same or
der of ideas as that which emerges
from all the aforementioned declara-
tions.
In their communication Of the Sec
ond instant, the British government
suggests that conversations be ini-
tiated between the three governments
OF France, England and Italy for the
purpose Of reaching, II possible. an
agreement on measures designed to
insure the application of the policy of
non-1ntervention. The British gov
ernment suggests such procedure with
the intention of obyiating difficulties
which have occurred to the London
committee.
Doubtful Of Solution.
The Fascist government appreciates
IN all its value the British suggestion,
but doubt whether the difficulties in
question can be overcome by way of
ingenuities or device of procedure,
above all, by that proposed
They draw attention Of the British
government to the fact that the mat