Evening star., 1937-07-07
RES|STS
SPAIN AID REPORT
Eden Directs Rome Envoy to
Protest Press Reports
of Arms Exports.
Py the Associated Press,

| ES lDe ASSOCIATED PreS4.
| LONDON, July THE British gov.
ernment today instructed its Ambas.
sador to Italy to make Representa-.
tions" to the Italian governments
against Italian press statements that
volunteers, arms, ammunition and air.
planes had been sent to Spain from
Great Britain.
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden
directed the ambassador, Sir Eric
Drummond, to act
Today Eden appeared before the
House of Commons and declared Brit
ain had no intention of offering new
proposals for Europes "hands-of-
Spain" policy at a non-intervention
meeting on Friday.
Asked by Labor member to clear
up anxiety" regarding the non.
| intervention committees position,
Eden said he had nothing to add to
| previous statement that Britain had
made her suggestions and was ready
to consider any new ones that are
Just and fair"
He added he would have something
to say about Britain's action after
Fridays 27-Nation Nom Intervention
Committee meeting.
Franco Note Threatening.
Earlier, threatening demand for
bellIeerent rights by insurgent Gen.
Francisco Franco was feared To have
endangered the long sought British
compromise plan to reyitalze the nom
| nj rIe
OF the Spanish civil war.
| The lnsurgent inSlStence, coupled
with prompt threat that nations
which refused might find themselves
! barred from Spanish markets, amazed
the British foreign Office.
Later, however, one official source
said the summary tof the Franco
demandJ is not clear but We, do not
attach undue Importance to itT
Only yesterday Britains relations
with the insurgents were considered
much improved as result of Francos
assurance that British iron ore ship
mentS from the Bilbao mines could
| be resumed
| Then came warning from Franco
that the return of foreigners TO in
surgent-held territory would be for
bldden. This, with the subsequent
note to European powers demanding
belligerent rights, provoked the great
est surprise here in view of Frances
apparent earlier attitude of concilia-
ton.
informed quarters agreed the note
would be considered particularly ILL
timed in view of the fact the whole
question Of granting belli9erent rights
70 ooth the Valencia government and
the insurgents had reached the crucial
stage in the 27-nation "hands-off.
Spain Committee.
Troops Withdrawal Urged.
The Earl of Plymouth, chairman
OF the body and spokesman for Britain,
was believed to have intended 70 IN.
! troduce the new compromise plan be.
| lore the full committee Friday Well
informed political circles suggested
the British proposal would have cf-
tered belllgerent rights to the COM
batants in exchange for German and
Italian cooperation in withdrawing
volunteers from the conflict.
IHe TWO FascSt countries, which
recognize the Franco regime as the
true Spanish government. disrupted
the previous neutrality system when
they bolted the four-power naval pas
troll in anger over alleged Spanish gov
eminent attacks against their war
ships.
The proposal to grant belligerent
no toll
ton for continuing the Neutrality
Committees work The two powers
had refused to agree to an Anglo
French proposal to take over the
entire naval control.