international committee to control the execution of the nonintervention pledges
has held its fast meeting in London is satisfactory as far as it goes. No more than that can be %Said yet.. Portugal, the State most directly concerned in the supply of munitions to the Spanish rebels,, was not- represented,. and other. delegatesi . notably theie "orGerinany and Italy, were not PitAided with information as to the steps their respective Govern- ments had so far taken. The committee, therefore, after a formal meeting, could do nothing but adjourn. Portugal's discreditable hesitations are no doubt intensified by the minor mutiny on two of her warships in Lisbon harbour on Tuesday—an outbreak that was rapidly suppressed and is likely to have no sequel. Dr. Salazar rules his country with a strong hand, and his sympathies are with General Franco. But it is unlikely that Portugal will permanently dissociate herself from the work of the control committee. If she does, the right step will be to include her territory in the area to which all export of munitions is prohibited. But it is doubtful whether general agreement to that would be forthcoming. , The attempts of the diplomatic body at Hendaye to secure the assent of the combatants in Spain to an agreement for the " humanisation " of the war have failed.
