BRITAIN AND SPAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 52, 2 March 1929, Page 6 (Supplement)

BRITAIN AND SPAIN.

SPANISH DESIRE FOR FRIENDSHIP. ARDENT CULTIVATION OF THINGS ENGLISH. (By F. B. FORESTER.) "With my greetings to the readers of the 'Times' Special Supplement on Spain, and my best wishes for ever closer friendly relations between Great Britain and Spain." So says Alfonso XIIL in an issue that is well worthy of the great paper that has produced it. Magnificent buildings, stately cathedrals, priceless works of art, manufactures, railways, docks, public works—all are shown hert mi a splendid scale; and tlo whole number throws wonderful light upon the life sad customs of a country the mention of which calls up to many people merely confused ideas of siestas and bull-fights, combs and mantillas, raisins, oranges, cork and sherry; of a land entirely devoted to pleasure and amusement, where graceful senoritas spend their time in waving fans and dancing, and the men in bull-fighting and playing the guitar. In a word, the whole number adds weight to the King of Spain's appeal to Englishmen to come to j his country and see it for themselves.

"It is unfair," his Majesty says' warmly, "as guide books say, to state that the roads are bad and that it is not sale, because it is not true, and the country is wpnderful really, and we should like every Englishman to come there." He refers later to the two great exhibitions to be held next year, at Seville and Barcelona, and adds that five new roads, with a view to the convenience of visitors, are now being made across the country. Spain, it should be borne in mind, is no longer the Spain of which George Borrow and Bichard Ford wrote in the early part of last century. No longer does Jose Maria, a Claude Duval of Andalucia, terrorise the country; in fact, brigandage, although at one time common, is now a thing of the past. The Civil Guards have seen to that.

Professor E. Allison Bees, of Liverpool University, emphasises the sentiments of the King. "Let us cultivate Spain," he says with decision, and follows up his words by describing the almost feverish enthusiasm with which the English language is being studied at the present time in Madrid, not only by university students of both sexes, but by older men and women. Everything English, also, is being ardently cultivated in Spain—tea, customs, motor cars, furnishing, clothing, etc., and last, but by 110 means least, "futbol," which—a consummation devoutly to be wished— will, in this Englishman's opinion, eventually oust the bull-fights. He emphasises how deeply everything English is taking root in Spain, adding that "we in England must do more than we are doing at present to foster the intimacy which the Spaniards themselves desire." Surely, all this being so, Englishspeaking nations will in the future show themselves less backward than they have hitherto been in learning the majestic language of Spain. Spanish is the language of South and Central America, whose noon is in the future. Spain possesses the noblest language in Europe, and it is a thousand pities that to so aany it should remain a sealed book.

For feir literature, which offers to the student so rich a harvest; for her history, "charged with the awe and glories of the past"; for her wonderful and picturesque country, land of old romance and song; for her noble language; but, above all, for her warm and eager desire for a closer intimacy between her countrymen and our own, let us cultivate Spain.