Evening star., 1938-08-22
FRANCO H|TSPACT
OF FBR|TA|N,|TALY
Troop Withdrawal Project
7 Rejection Bars Treaty
Operation.
Py The Associated Press.


LONDON. Aug 22.-Insurgent Gen.
eralissimo Frances rejection OF the
two basic points Of q scheme to get
foreign fighters out Of Spain appeared
today to have blocked operation of the
British Italian friendship treaty for
an indefinite period.
Gen. Frances rejection. although he
accepted the principle of withdrawal,
was in lengthy note to the 26-Nation
European Non-Intervention in Spain
Committee. author of the plan which
was British INSPIRED and had been
accepted by the Spanish Barcelona
government.
The immediate effect was that the
committee was confronted with the
diflcult task of finding another pro-
posal, with the likelihood of q new
series Of delays like those which have
beset the group since its first meeting
nearly two years ago, on September
9, 1886.
Another Delay for Pact.
This. in turn, meant another delay
In enforcement of the British pact
with Italy signed on April l6, unless
Premier Chamberlain acted to alter
its provision for withdrawal Of Italian
fighters from Spain at the end OF the
war or before.
Mr.. Chamberlain and his foreign
minister. Viscount Halifax. hurried
back from the country to confer on
the turn OF events today
There were some in diplomatic
quarters here who felt the war would
be ended before any new proposal
could be agreed upon for withdrawal
OF foreign fighters, whose presence
in Spain the Nom Intervention Com
mittee regards as 4 danger to world
peace.
There were some also who thought
Premier Mussolini of Italy was fully
aware of Gen. Frances stand. and
that the two had joined hands to
harass the British government.
These sources argued that, in effect,
Gen. Franco had killed the chances OF
the Anglo-Italian pact.
Conditions Imposed.
Gen. Franco, in his note made public
Yesterday. stated Insurgent SPANS S
wish to assist the committee in in
suring that the Spanish problem shall
not disturb the peace of Europe" and
accepted willingly withdrawal of vol
unteers. subject to conditions indicated
above. :"
These main conditions were that
belligerent rights be granted to Span
iSh Insurgents at once. and that VOL
unteers be withdrawn in equal num-
bers from each army.
The committee had proposed with
drawal OF volunteers in proportion to
their total number in each army. after
a survey had been made; and that
belligerent rights be given Gen. Franco
after the Withdrawals had been
effected.
Belligerent rights would permit In
surgent Spain legally to blockade gov
ernment Spains ports and would give
Gen. Franco's regime the status OF
an established nation at war.
Having thus rejected the two basic
features OF the plan. Gen. Franco
offered "as an extraordinary conces-
sion, to respect the establishment of
two safety ports in the enemy zone
for vessels carrying foodstuffs; and to
cooperate in defending and limiting.
so far as may be practicable, the con-
ception Of military objectives in rela-
tion to aerial bombardments. =" :"
Gen. Franco. moreover. demanded to
know what guarantees" the committee
powers could give him of government
Spain's integrity. and reserved the
right to make other objections he con-
sidered useless to make at this stage. y