The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-08-19
Where War Planes Rained Death On City P

tGohsahuau AkuAA EAeS ~ substance that Portugal, ''continu- ing it's rearmament of the army" inc vited bids from principal factories for Q certain number" of machine guns. one of the factories waa the Cnechoslovenska Abroiovska factory, which is practically Q government concsrn.H It was commented that Czechoslovak guns were preferred, "princlpally because of the time of delivery" Negotiations went smooth. for some time, 1t was said, though there were delays which 'in the light of subsequent facts" seemed deliberate. The note said that the CRechoslovak factory asked for . written declaration that the arms were exclusively" for the portU- guese army, and that the declara- ton was given.
 Refused to Deliver
 Then, it was complained, the gov- ernment was advised that the CEechoslovakian government refused to authorize export of the arms be- cause of PortugGl's attitude regard- ing the spanish non.interventlonal problem. The Portuguese govern rnent openly and strongly in favor of the spanish Nationalists, has co- operated with Germany and fascist Italy in non-intervention sproblerns.
 It was added that the OEecho- slovak government told the portu- guese minister that the only reason for refusal was the governments ob- ligation not to furnish arms, direct- ly or indirectly, for either of the factions in the civil war. Attention was called to the refusal of CEecho- slovakia to furnish arms ordered by Mexico, which favors the Loyalists. Portugal Rejects It Portugal, in on ofilcial note July 90, rejected this explanation. The note said that Portugal was bound by the n-intervention agreement notto send arms to Spain, and that Mexico was not bound,
 Next, the ofilcial statement said, Cxeohoslovakia said that export of oil arms was banned til the span. ish war ended. The Portuguese inin- ister asked to which the countries the band xtended-Britain is . big customer for machine guns, inci- dentally. The minister was not able to obtain Q precise answer, the state inent said, but later was asked to guarantee that the machine guns, or any arms acquired by reason of the machine gun contract, would not get to Spain.
 Finally, said the ofiicial statement, the Czechoslovak government agreed to authorize the delivery of 600 nia- chine guns in September but reserve cd the right to reconsider the tres mainder" of the contract when the time for delivery arrived since the order might conflict with Cseeho- slovakias national defense needs.
 Unique Instance
 Prague, Aug. iD-(UP)-Tho for. eign ofiice in c formal statement today said the diplomatic rupture with Portugal Is "an unique instance In diplomatic history that the failure of business negotiations has led to formal rupture in diplomatic re- lations."
 "The Portuguese government" it said, recently negotiated with . Czech arms firm, simutaneou soliciting the Czech foreign ofiicea consent for delivery. When 1t was established that the Csech firm, owing to previous orders by the Czech army, would Do unable to All the Portuguese orders within the time fixed the Portuguese that gov- ernment was offered deliverly of afa. other type. which also is used by the Czech army.
 "The Portuguese government dc. cided to insist on delivery Of the type oroginally ordered. Recall Of It's minister from Prague followed.
 We state there neither existed nor exists political or diplomatic conflicts between CSechoslovakia and Portugal"
 Russia, France In It
 London, Aug. io-(U.P.)-.RussiA and France were mentioned today as possible third parties in the break of relations between Portugal and Cgechoslovakia over non.fui- fiilment Of 6 gignatic machine gun contract.
 Portugal complained that Csecho- slovakia refused to deliver . ship. inent of machine guns under pres- sure from third power and the anti-Russian, pro.spanish nation. alist evening news headlined It's story that Czechoslovakia was ac. cused of acting under Russian oF. derg.