Evening star., 1937-01-02
ATTACKING CRAFT
TO Be FIRED UPON
BY SPANISH SHIPS
Basque Government Issues
Orders in Reply to She'll
ing by Nazis.
HOPEFUL VALENCIA
WILL SEND WARSHIPS
Germany Will Continue Rough
Treatment" Of Spanish Ship
ping, Berlin Says.
BACKGROUND

0hNhoASOND
Seizure of German treighter
Palos by Spanish Socialists a teD
days ago increased tension in Eu-
pean situation and brought re-
prisdl threats from Adolf Hitler.
Palos pas subsequently released,
but part OF cargo and one pass
enper ,pds retained. Yesterday
German cruiser shelled the armed
tretghter Soton, carrying out
threatened reprisdl.
Spread OF lDdr to Europe through
the medium OF non-interDention
acds clin11red last neek with
Frances ultinldtum to Germany
that she must prevent the Leaving
of volunteers for the Spanish front
and that, In addition, Hitler must
agree to enter general disarma-
ment accord. She Jollowed Nth
otter to return Gernluny's war-lost
colonies in return for peace.
Backed BY Britain, Hitler's reply
has been a,odited.
BY the Associated Press.
BILBAO, January 2.-The autono-
nous Basque government today or
dered its patrol boats to open fire on
any vessel attacking Spanish merchant
ships after the German cruiser Koe-
nigsberg shelled the freighter Soton.
The order was the first extreme
measure" by which the northern ad-
ministration hoped to halt attacks by
foreign vessels.
Authorities, mindful they have only
q limited number of small ships on
patrol duty, expressed hope the Social
ist government at Valencia would send
warships and submarines to the north
ern ports.
Tin Berlin it was announced Ger
man warships will continue rough
treatment" of Spanish shipping until
Nad vessels are respected on the high
seas.)
Realize Repercussjons.
These measures were ordered, the
Basque government announced, with
full realization of what the inter-
national repercussions may be-"
The 6oton was fred upon and
forced aground by the German cruis-
er Koenigsberger, in "reprisal" for re-
tention of part of the cargo and a
Spanish passenger by Basque captors
Of the German freighter Palos. The
Palos herself was freed.
The "facts" Of the Soton incident,
as the Basques had them, were for
warded at once to the International
Nom Intervention Committee in Lon
don. The committee meets next
Wednesday.
The Basque representatives said they
were unable to confirm earlier reports
that the Spanish steamer Aragon had
been detained by the German pocket
battleship Admiral Graf Spec.
AS far as they knew, they said, the
only incident was between the Soton
and the Koenigsberg.
The Basque government is not dis.
posed to permit any German interfer-
ence violating international law, and
has given orders for the most extreme
measures II necessary, fully realizing
what may be the international reper-
cussions OF these measures" the official
announcement said.
These facts have been brought to
the attention of the Non-intervention
Committee in London SO that the vari-
Gus chancellories can take note OF
them with all due attention to the
consequences which the German act
may have. in order to find means of
preventing Europe from following this
course.
The Basque government Is not dis
posed to change its attitude in the
slightest extent because 1t knows that
neutral countries are those which are
obliged to look out for the respect OF
due laws.
This especially applies to the Basque
(See SPAIN Page A-I1l