NEWS OF THE WEEK
THOUGH the patrol arrangements off the Spanish coast and on Spain's land frontiers technically come into effect at midnight on March 6th, they are not likely to be in full operation for a fortnight. But the ban on volunteers is, of course, in force and there is no evidence that it is not being respected. Both Mr. Eden and Lord Halifax have claimed this week with some justice that the danger of war in Europe has been substantially reduced by the agreement thus laboriously achieved regarding Spain. The next step aimed at is the gradual withdrawal of the foreign volunteers at present in Spain, but Germany and Italy, who originally pressed for this, are now making difficulties about it by urging that it be associated with the sequestration of the gold which the Spanish Government has deposited in some unknown place of safety abroad. What effect the stoppage of further foreign intervention, and the possible withdrawal of the foreign troops at present in the peninsula, will have on the course of the fighting and the prospects of mediation, remains to be seen. In the past week no great change has taken place in the military situation, what little there has been being in favour of the Government, whose troops have made a vigorous thrust from the capital towards Toledo, while in the north Oviedo has now been completely cut off and is being captured by the Basques and Asturians house by house. Another insurgent attack on Madrid, where bread-rationing has been announced, is expected.
