VARIOUS CONSIDERATIONS ON THE QUESTION OF THE RECOGNITION 
      OF BELLIGERENT RIGHTS IN FAVOUR OF THE SPANISH INSURGENTS.
 
      
 
 
Firstly: The British and French Governments have stated that 
      the concession of belligerent right can only be made in conformity 
      with the plan drawn up by the London Committee for the withdrawal 
      of foreigners taking part in the Spanish struggle. According 
      to this plan, belligerent rights in a limited form cannot be 
      conceded until the non-Intervention Committee is satisfied that 
      "substantial progress" has been made in the withdrawal 
      of foreigners, it being understood that in accordance with the 
      formula contained in the plan itself, "substantial progress" 
      consists in the withdrawal of 10,000 foreigners from the side 
      which has the least, with a proportionate number from the other 
      side.
 
      
 
 
Secondly: There is a reason of first importance for the stipulation 
      of the Non-Intervention Committee that the concession of belligerent 
      rights shall be dependent on the virtually complete withdrawal 
      of foreigners. This is that without such withdrawal it is impossible 
      to ascertain to what extent the actual situation which the Spanish 
      rebels have succeeded in creating, is due, not to the support 
      of genuine Spanish elements, but to that received from foreign 
      powers. The fact that the insurgents dominate a large part of 
      the national territory, when in order to maintain law and order 
      they have to impose a rule of terror, would in no circumstances 
      justify the granting of belligerent rights. But leaving on one 
      side this aspect of the question, it would be obviously iniquitous 
      even to bring up the matter of the recognition of belligerent 
      rights without the most certain guarantee that this domination 
      of a large proportion of the national territory and the "law 
      and order maintained by the insurgent leaders, were based on 
      the strength afforded to them by the support of genuine Spanish 
      elements and not on that given them by the support of foreign 
      powers.  %