The Non-Intervention Committee has quickly come to grips' with what perhaps is the crucial test of the sucçess of the British proposals, although the actual point is one of procedure within the committee-room rather than the acceptance of the specific provisions concerned. "The scheme provides that the grant of belligerent rights to both sides in the Spanish Civil War shal! not be made until there has been "substantial progress" with the evacuation of all foreign combatants from the country. It has been estimated that there are about 100,000 foreigners in General Franco's forces—mainly Italians anè Germans, with a sprinkling of British and French. The number with the Spanish Government's troops is put at 30000, comprising British, French, German emigres, and Russians, Suggestions have been made that "substantial progress" might be regarded as secured when foreigners have been withdrawn from both sides. Some objection is raised to this on the ground that it would penalize the Spanish Govern-
boreas one side would be giving up against its opponents, for one-third of its foreign effectives the other would only be losing one-tenth. The recognition of both sides as belligerents is not without precedent. One example is provided by the recognition given to the Confederates in the American Civil War. Nor is there ground for asserting that it is specially favourable to General Franco, although, with his superior naval power, it might enable him to blockade the Spanish ports and throttle the Valencia Government's line of supply from overseas. On the other hand recognition carries with it certain responsibilities which: the Spanish Government may be glad for General Franco to be forced to assume. Despite the present insistence by Italy on the prior consideration of the question of belligerent rights and her expressed opinion that the grant of those rights should precede evacuation, there is a distinct possibility that she may be inclined to revise her attitude, Germany has emphatically indicated her desire to make the Civil War safe for Spaniards. Both Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini are reported to be doubting the wisdom of their having given so many hostages to fortune on Spanish soil and will probably welcome the opportunity gracefully to extricate their nationals from a position which has precious little glamour. It would be rash to assume that Lord Plymouth has an easy passage. The auspices are, however, by no means unfavourable. The evident good temper of the discussions is at least encouraging.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.