Evening star., 1939-02-26

WtICf NCSJ III uVU OLftCi OULStuto
later returning to Madrid to re-
establish government in capital
they abandoned more than 2
years ago. Loyalists leaders pre-
piously offered to surrender on
sole condition OF pledge by Gen.
Franco against reprisals.
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, Feb. 25.-The end of the
long Spanish civil war appeared to
be only a matter of hours tonight.
The Spanish government, officials
of the Madrid regime said, has
agreed to offer its virtual surrender.
The capitulation to the national
list government of Generalissimo
Francisco Franco will be called an
"armistice," according to the Off
cials, who declared it might go into
effect late tonight or tomorrow.
Only unforeseen resistance by gov
ernment followers, they said, could
postpone the end.
The agreement to capitulate was
said to have been given by govern
ment Premier Juan Negrin after
written guarantees had reached the
British government from Gen
eralissimo Franco.
Assurance of No Reprisals.
These guarantees were said to be
assurances that there would not be
reprisals against Spanish govern
ment leaders Nationalist author
tiles likewise would guarantee
Spains freedom from German and
Italian domination, it was stated.
The assurances, largely meeting
Premier Negrin's terms for govern
ment surrender. were said to have
been given by Generalissimo Franco
apart from negotiations in Britain
and France for recognition of the
nationalist regime, expected Mon
day.
1t was understood that the time
for the "armistice" to become ef-
fective was being discussed between
the British government, the Spanish
Ambassador to London and repre-
sentatives of Generalissimo Frances
cabinet. The peace was said to
have been proposed by Britain.
(Spanish government officials
In London disclaimed knowledge
of any armistice move. A Span
ish Embassy spokesman said ne
gotiations looking toward an
armistice must be preceded by
statement of terms on which
the proposal were made He
professed ignorance of any such
approach by the British govern
ment)
BattlefrOnts Quiet.
The battlefronts in Spain were as
quiet as though an armistice already
had been declared. Not even an air
raid was reported.
The Madrid governments accept
Ance Of the "armistice" was said to
have been decided at cabinet
meeting Friday and to have been
messaged to Pablo Azcarate y Florez,
the Ambassador to London.
Government Foreign Minister Julio
Alvarez del Dayo, conveyed it to
Manuel Azana, government Presi-
dent, at the Spanish Embassy In
Paris. Azana recently has been an
outspoken advocate of peace.
The report on the cabinet meet
Ing which came from Madrid Friday
said the ministers had discussed the
capacity of their forces to resist
further the superior nationalist war
machine.
Negotiations to follow the end of
hostilities which have been virtually
nonexistent since the fall of BARGE
Iona, January 26, it was understood,
would be limited to fixing a means
Tor Premier Negrin and other gov
ernment leaders to leave Spain.
Occupation in Few Days.
1t was believed by Spanish gov
ernment officials here that national
lst occupation of the government
zone embracing Madrid, Valencia
and Alicante would follow a few
days after the armistice. This CEN
tral area, embracing one-fourth of
Spain, was all that the government
had left after two years, seven
AaoIltllS ana one week OF civil war.
From the beginning of the con-
flict in revolt in Spanish Morocco,
July 18. 1886, the war had been a
succession of defeats for the en-
battled government forces.
The British government was be-
1ieved to have agreed to pledge the
performance of Gen. Frances prom
ises. because the generalissimo, true
to his statements, has refused to
treat directly with the government
ar to offer conditions for its sur
render.
President Azana, his aides said
would leave the Spanish Embassy
mere Sunday afternoon, ending the
last pretense to keeping his post as
chief OF the Spanish republic. He
was expected to issue q proclama-
tlon explaining his work for peace
ana announcing his resignation
Azana is expected to enter re-
(See SPAIN, Page A-51