Evening star., 1937-10-01

London, has brought crisis to
Europe, 1Dith French threats to re-
open her frontier to arms and DOL
unteers for the Spanish Lopdlists
unless italian polunteers Were NTH
drawn. Anti-pirdcy patrol recently
constituted 1Dith Italy as member
after Britain and France promoted
nine -po,Der Nyon conference, which
Italy refused to attend.
By THE Associated Press.
LONDON, october Britain and
France today phrased the final draft
Of their implied demand on Italy for
a showdown on intervention in Spain's
civil. war, despite reported attempt
by Premier Mussolini to prevent such
an invitation from ever reaching
Rome
Carefully the note-writing experts
OF the Paris and London foreign
offices combed the text of the mo-
mentous overture, which will not be
forwarded until after the French cabi-
net, probably tomorrow, gives final
approval The British cabinet al
ready had approved the draft invi-
tation.
France and Britain were determined
to block any move by the Italian
premier to sidestep the proposed tri-
power conference aimed at forcing
prompt withdrawal of the thousands
of Italian soldiers fighting for insur-
gent Spain.
(Well-informed sources in Rome
today said that Italy will not at
tend the projected Anglo French
Italian conference unless Germany
also is invited. 1t WAS pointed out
that Premier Mussolini's previous
strong statements on leaving Italian
volunteers in Spain, until insurgent
Gen. Francisco Franco wins the
civil war; makes it practically i'm
possible for him to agree to with
draw them now)
Seeks to Forestall Bid.
Count Dino Grand, Mussolini's en-
voy to London, was believed to have
| attempted TO forestall actual presenta-
| ton of the invitation at Rome.
His call Wednesday night on For
eign Secretary Anthony Eden was in
terpreted generally as II Duce's first
attempt to place difficulties in the way
of Italian acceptance-if it was not
actually a threat that Italy would
refuse to counsel with Britain and
| France.
Some quarters went so far as to
suggest that Grandi had presented a
fiat rebuff before the invitation was
even delivered, or finally framed-on
the ground that any discussion regard
ing the withdrawal of Italian vol
unteers" from the international
civil war in Spain affected other
countries, such as Russia, which favors
the Valencia government.
Final Anglo French Card.
Reopening of the frontier, now a
barrier to rinforcements and mu-
nitions for the warning forces in
Spain, is the final card which France
and Britain were believed ready tc
play to-compel Italy to call her SOL
diers home
The republican government of Spain
would be the principal If not exclu-
sive beneficiary OF . dissolution Of the
border control.
Some quarters believed Mussolini'a
only escape from q showdown would bs
quick victory for the Spanish in
surgents.
But it was pointed out that if Italy
should attempt to hurry their victory
perhaps by dispatching fresh troops
France would react Immediately by
throwing open her frontier.
Franco Reported Willing.
PARIS, October l (P.-A report
circulated in France today that Fran
cisco Franco, the Spanish insurgeni
generalissimo, was willing to agree te
withdrawal of foreign soldiers from
Spain and soon would advise inter
ested powers Of his attitude.