The Fight for Non-Intervention The diplomatic aspect of the Spanish
conffict still dominates the military, for snow, rain and fog have brought almost all operations in the field to a standstill. But diplomatic activity is _considerable. Mr.- Eden announced in the House of Commons on Wednesday that Italy had given repeated assurances that she had no intention of seeking any agreement with General Franco aiming at altering the status quo in the Mediterranean. This obviously refers to the Balearic Islands, and is satis- factory so far as it goes—though Italian assurances have to be valued in the light of recent history. The plans for the supervision of the non-intervention agreement are being worked out, though neither party has yet accepted them ; an attempt is being made to check the flow of volunteers as well as of munitions into Spain ; and proposals for attempted mediation arc still under consider- ation in spite of their very tepid reception by Germany, Italy and Portugal. The attempt to localise the conflict has not failed ; if it had we should be in the midst of a European war ; but it has by no means achieved per- manent success, and with the inflow ofloreign volunteers on both sides the war has become in a large measure international. But cordiality in the relations between Germany and Italy is visibly diminishing, and the efforts Mr. Eden and M. Dclbos are exerting amidst much dis- couragement may yet achieve their end. The discussion laSt week before the League of Nations Council, which gave its general blessing to the non-intervention endea- vours, was regarded as not unsatisfactory by the Spanish Government.
