Evening star., 1938-03-27
R|SANDL0NDON
WORR|EDBYSP SPAIN
Rebels Imminent Victory
Heightens Menace to
Security.
By the Associated Press

LONDON, March 26.-British and
French security in the Mediterranean
became a more vital issue tonight as
sweeping insurgent advances put the
Spanish government in perhaps the
most dangerous position of the 20
month civil war.
How much longer the defending
Spaniards could hold out unless the
tide turned Unexpectedly in their favor
or outside aid came was a matter of
wide speculation.
But despite fears held by many
British and French that victory by
the insurgents with Italian and Ger
man help would seriously endanger the
security of both democratic nations,
neither government indicated any
change from the policy of non-inter-
vention.
British Press Italian Accord
The British government, seemingly
less concerned than France over
Spain's future. pressed on toward an
attempted settlement with Italy, seek
ing thereby to preclude possible Italian
domination in Spain.
Informed quarters in Rome, how
ever, said completion of an Italo-
British accord was being delayed by
the necessity of obtaining agreement
OF France and Soviet Russia, from
whom aid has gone to the Spanish gov
ernment, to the proposal for with
drawing foreign combatants from
Spain.
Negotiations for settlement of diff
ferences between Britain and italy
were launched under Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain's realistic" for
elgn policy, which caused the resig-
nation of his foreign secretary, An
thony Eden, on February 20.
At the same time the British gov
ernment was giving priority to its
qulckened rearmament drive. and
France wrestled with spreading strikes
and the problem of exactly how to pay
for her rearmament.
Organized labor's millions of workers
in Britain apparently were ready to
negotiate on non-political basis with
the government on their part in the
greater rearmament effort
Sir Walter Citrine, general secretary
OF the Trades Union Congress. as
serted:
Our conduct in rearmament must
be based on purely industrial con-
siderations.
Nevertheless he added the Congress
would urge Mr.. Chamberlain, through
our usual political channels" to mod
lfy his foreign policy.
The Prime Minister arranged to Law
the governments general plan for in
tensif1ed speeding of defense prepara-
tfons before industrial leaders Mon
day
The Labor Party. disappointed at
Mr.. Chamberlain's Spanish policy and
skeptical of Italo-British negotiations.
promised meanwhile to keep up its
attacks on the government.
There was a possibility another
foreign affairs debate in the House
Of Commons might be demanded
Lithuanian Talks Progress.
dlio Alllludllld, WIlUSC OlS.
pute over issues of 18 years standing
threatened to result in war Just
week ago. made progress In negotia-
tions for resumption of normal rela-
tons
Delegates Of the two countries meet
ing at Augustow, Poland, reached an
agreement on postal, highway and
aerial communications and turned to
discussion OF railway communications.
The move by United States Secre-
tary Of State Cordell Hull on behalf
OF political refugees met a sympa-
thetic response in number of Euro
pean countries.
Dutch Cabinet Meets Tomorrow.
The Netherlands cabinet will meet
Monday to take a decision on the pro-
posal for cooperation in affording
refugees haven.
The British government promised
to give its immediate attention to
the American proposal and a favor
able French reply was expected soon.
In Berlin. Propaganda Minister Paul
Joseph Goebbels' newspaper, Der
Angriff, however, prophesied that the
United States would experience serious
domestic disturbances by allowing
refugees to enter.
In America" it said, there still
will be serious inner disturbances
until the healthy strength of Anglo
Saxon folk has destroyed or absorbed
immigrant injections.
Anglo Italian Poet Delayed.
ROME, March 26 (P).-Informed
quarters said today completion of the
Italo-British accord was being delayed
by the necessity of obtaining French
and Russian agreement to withdraw