The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-15

a cabinet meeting at whlcn the Ques- ton was filscussed, including Q re. ported recommendation by Lord Halifax, foreign secretary, that the government recognize the spanish Natlonallsts speedily and uncondi- tionally.
 Chamberlains statement about Hitler's assurance was in response to a question by Godfrey Mander, Lib- eral, on whether the government had received any such assurance.
 No Gain In Delay
 Lord Halifax has advised Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain that in his opinion there was nothing to be gained either by delaying rec- oSnition or by imposing conditions, 1t was asserted.
 This seemed e departure from the French viewpoint and 1t was not re- garded as certain that the cabinet would support Halifav at its meet ing this morning. (Editors: Cab- inets meets 6 Q. m. EST)
 The French government decided yesterday to send Senator Leon Berard, its special envoy, on Q sec- ond visit to the Nationalist Ito lay he foundation for diplomatic rela- tions."
 But both the French and British governments to date had withheld formal recognition because they were trying to dangle the recogni- ton offer before the Nationalists as c means of persuading them to give the Loyalists generous condi- tions for an expected early surren- der, and also because they wanted recognition to be accompanied by a firm pledge that Italian and Ger man troops would leave Spain soon. Definite Things to Offer
 Great Britain and France have definite things to offer the Nation- alists. If Spain under Italian or German influence is 6 menace to France, SO Is France menace to Spain. Britain and France are re- ported to be ready to offer gigantic credits for reconstruction.
 It was said today that e company called the Societa Del Mediterraneo had been formed in Italy to build roads, public utilities and other works in Spain under the direction of Italian engineers and with the aid of Italian workmen. The Idea seemed to be based on the thought that Spain, with approximately g. 100000 men who will want jobs when the war ends, would be short of help. It was regarded as possible that British pounds sterling and French francs, flowing Into coun- try impoverished by the bitterest civil war of modern history, might be preferred to an Inflow of foreign labor.
 To Keep Italy Out
 It has been reported from Paris that British was as unwilling as France to permit Italy to get . foothold in either Tunisia or Dji- bout, French Somaiiland.
 The French seemed to feel that the best way of dealing with Italy was to deal cautiously with the Ma tionalists, and Lord Halifax that it was better to make an immediate deal with the Nationalists in the be. lief that they could be depended upon to get the Italians out oi Spain.
 It was the British, not the French government, which made represen. tations in Rome regarding the dis patch of Italian troop reinforce ments to Libya, adjoining French Colonial Africa, mad an unexpected renewal Of the Fascist newspaper campaign against France while ftal. fans were still mourning Pope Plus
 Withdrawal Begun
 Tn letter which was part oi the British- Italian agreement oi last year, Count daieazzo Clano Fascist foreign minister and son.in. law of Premier Benito Mussolini said of the then big Italian army if Libya: "The withdrawal of these forces has already begun at the rate of 1000 c week and will continue ct not less than this rate until tho Italian effectives in Libya reach peacetime strength"
 What constituted peace time strength was mot defined, but Ciant was reported to have admitted tt the Earl of Perth, British ambassa. dor to Italy, this week that 0000t Italian troops ct least remained ir