The question of whether the bulk of the Spanish merchant navy is to support the Republican Government or the Nationalist leader, Gem. Francisco Franco, is said to have raised a dispute which resulted in the arrest of seven Spanish ships in South Wales and a number in other British ports.
The arrest follows the alleged refusal of owners to comply with the order of the Spanish Government commandeering vessels.
Most of the Spanish merchantmen are registered at Bilbao and while the port was controlled by the Basque Government, no difficulties were encountered. Now that it is in the hands of Gen. Franco, the owners appear to resent dictation by the Republican Government.
At the instigation of the owner: writs will be served on those controlling the ships which will not be allowed to leave the port without an order from the Admiralty court—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.