A DESPERATE MAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 246, 30 July 1936, Page 5

A DESPERATE MAN.

FRANCO AND DICTATORSHIP. SAVING COUNTOY FROM MARXISM. (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, July 29. A special correspondent of the “News-Chronicle’ ’ interviewed General Franco (one of the rebel leaders) at Tetuan. General Franco said he was determined to take Madrid to save Spain from Marxism, whatever the cost. No European Power could afford to let Spain go Red. “General Franco is a desperate man,” declares the correspondent. “I. came out of his torrid headquarters convinced that he really thinks that Spain, if he fails, will be tempted to provoke an international incident of the gravest character. I ask him how long the massacre would continue, since his coup had failed in its objectives. He replied: ‘‘l cannot compromise. I shall advance and take Madrid, whatever the cost. My troops will pacify the country and very shortly all this will seem a night-

mare.’ ”

The correspondent suggested that that would mean that he would have to shoot half of Spain. General Franco shook his head, smiling, and then snapped : “I repeat, whatever the cost.” He added: “Europe must realise that I cannot allow Spain to become a second Communist Power, using her strategic position to disseminate Red propaganda in Morocco and Algeria. Questioned about his plans, General Franco said he intended to establish a military dictatorship. He denied that the elections last February, which resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Government, represented the national will.

Asked whether he was not afraid

that prolonged civil strife would destroy the Republic, the Army and the Navy, and leave the way open for Communism to create the very situation he wanted to avoid, General Franco replied: “Armies are forced into war. This is a struggle between the real Spain and the Marxists.”