Evening star., 1937-10-13
ENGLAND TO CALL
27-NAT|ON GROUP
ON SPANISH ISSUE
Cabinet Reported Agreed on
Summons, Possibly for
Friday.
CHAMBERLAIN CONFERS
WITH OPPOSITIONISTS
Prime Minister Talks Is Minutes
With Maj. Clement Atlee
and Greenwood.
BACKGROUND


NTH necessity OF making grave de-
cisions in Spanish Intervention
dispute as result of Italy's refusal
last Saturday OF Joint Anglo-French
bid to attend three-porer talk on
1cithdraUal OF Uolunteers from
Spain. Italy replied, demanding
that question be submitted to 27-
Nation Non-Interrention Commit
tee in London, and insisted upon
hdDing Germany present.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, October ia decision
to call the international Hands of
Spain" Committee into session this
week-possibly Friday-to seek quick
decisions on the withdrawal of foreign
volunteers from Spain was reported
reached today at lengthy meeting of
the British cabinet.
The report came just as Prime Min
fster Neville Chamberlain finished a
45-minute conference on the interna-
tional situation with Maj. Clement r.
Attlee, leader of the laborite opposi-
ton in Parliament, and his deputy,
Arthur Greenwood
The conference was such as rarely
occurs when Parliament is not in ses-
sion-except when important govern
ment decisions are under consideration.
The usual reason for such move is
to obtain opposition support for gov
ernment policy in times of crisis.
Follows Cabinet Session.
The move followed the cabinet meet
Ing called to consider the next move
in the Spanish intervention impasse
between Italy on one side and Britain
and France on the other
The ministers met in an atmosphere
OF pessimism resulting from reports
that Premier Mussolini had called up
10000 Blackshirt reserves. Rome,
however, denied any of the troops were
destined for the Spanish civil war in
which the Italian premier is support
Ing the insurgents.
1t was possible, however, that the
conference between the head of
ASlASoAAi . SOi4,C1 d4NS 6OfCl AliilIllU S1llQ
the opposition leaders was connected
with Attlee's request for Chamberlain's
approval of special debate on the Far
Eastern crisis when Parliament re-
assemles October 81.
Chamberlain was believed to have
taken the Laborite leaders entirely into
his confidence in the talks this after
noon and to have shown them the
secret dispatches of the cabinet and
foreign Office on both the Spanish and
Sino-Japanese situations.
New Intervention Reported.
Despite Italian denials that the new
reserves were going to Spain, the Brit
ish and French governments were
known to be disturbed by recurring
reports of further Italian intervention
On behalf of the insurgent cause
London and Paris indicated, never
theless, that they favored a policy of
caution-to deal with the delicate Sit
uation so as to minimize the danger
Of direct clash with Italy.
British and French diplomats, fol-
lowing Mussolini's thumbs-down on
their invitation to tri-power talks on
the Spanish civil war, yielded to his
wish to turn the question over to the
London Non Intervention Committee,
which has not met since early August.
France stipulated. however, that the
negotiations be swift and that Britain
agree to aid her in moving to equal
lie the balance" in Spain should the
negotiations collapse.
The decision to lay the intervention
Issue before the 27-nation London
committee was reached yesterday after
talks between British Foreign Secre-
tary Anthony Eden and French Am
bassador Charles Corbin.