Evening star., 1939-02-05

UtOHE-IOHy CuWLpULyU UILuI OC-
gan 80 miles aUay. Insurgent
troops haze driuen northDdrd to
conquer remainder of Catalonia,
putting hundreds of thousands of
ciUilian refugees in panic. About
$4,000 are reported to haue fed
into France. Its detenseS shat
tered, the Spanish government
set up its capital in Catalonian
toDn OF Figuerus.
BY the Associated Press
PERPIGNAN, France, Feb. A.
The Spanish government was re-
ported in reliable quarters tonight
to have requested Great Britain to
open secret negotiations with in
surgents to end the savage 2la-year.
old civil war.
The reported overtures contained
such broad qualifications, however,
as to raise the question of their sue
cess. They were disclosed at time
when Premier Juan Negrin's gov
ernment took first steps toward
abandoning all of Catalonia-Spain's
northeastern corner-to Insurgent
Generalissimo Francisco Frances
conquering forces in an attempt to
make last stand in the central
island quarter of Spain, embrac.
ing Valencia and Madrid.
Three Points Enunciated.
1t was understood that in the re-
quest to the British government, the
Spanish government authorities stip-
ulated that the peace talks be
opened with three points enunciated
by Premier Negrin Wednesday as
the background
Then Premier Negrin told the
Cortes CParliament at Figueras that
the government aims were:
l. A guarantee of independence
for Spain and freedom from for
eign influence;
2 A government desired by the
people. as shown by plebiscite:
3. Liquidation of the war without
persecution to permit all Spaniards
to join in the countrys reconstruc-
ton.
There was no indication at Burgos
of Gen. Frances reaction to the
Spanish governments move. Some
diplomats believed the insurgent
leader would balk at negotiating on
such broad basis, particularly in
view Of his military successes.
On London spokesman Of the
Spanish government Embassy to-
night acknowledged that the
plight of the government was
such in Catalonia that an at
tempt might be made to transfer
the capital to Valencia, but de-
MED any attempt to treat for
peace had been made through
Great Britain)
Government Plight Worse.
The Spanish governments plight
in Catalonia was growing worse
every hour. Gen. Frances troops
conQuerors of the important city Of
Corona this morning smashed
steadily northward toward the
French frontier. They were quickly
cutting away the little Catalonian
territory left in government control.
The government temporary cap
ital at Figueras was only 20 miles
from the fighting lines tonight.
Premier Negrin and his ministers
had left for somewhere in Cata-
lonia' while minor officials crossed
into France with the governments
records. One report had the gov
eminent leaders planning to fly to
Valencia to set up new capital.
Government army officers arriving
here frankly admitted the Insur-
gent advance had turned into a rout
for their troops. They said that
only before SEQ de Urgel. near the
Andorran frontier, was there any
real resistance
At Paris British Ambassador Sir
Eric Phipps conferred this evening
with French Foreign Minister Bon
net. 1t was his third visit in "a
hours and apparently was connected
with the Spanish governments
action.
Refugees jam Roads.
Insurgent war planes flew at will
over Northern Catalonia, bombing
and machine-gunning the few re-
manning government = controlled
towns. Roads leading into France
were jammed with struggling wom-
en-, children and old men, hungry
and seeking haven.
1t was believed that French Sena-
tor Leon Berard, who was sent to
the Insurgent capital at Burgos by
his government Thursday on an "un-
official mission, might take part in
presenting the Spanish govern
ment's case to Insurgent authorities.
French officials we're worried by
(See SPAIN, Page A-3)