THE FASCIST PUSH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 165, 15 July 1939, Page 10

THE FASCIST PUSH.

AND LATIN AMERICA. SERIOUS PROBLEM IN U.S.A. WHAT EX-SPANISH MINISTER THINKS. (By H. 15. ROOF.R-S.) WASHINGTON. The tin>s;t serious problem facing the United States as an outgrowth of the Spanish situation is Fascist propaganda in Latin America, according to Julio Alvarez del Vayo, former I" iroign Minister of the Spanish Republic in the Government of Juan Xegriu, Fascist and Nazi propaganda conducted by the Italians and he. Germans could not I.e so effective i- the Spanishspeaking countries of Latin America as such propaganda conducted by General Franco in Spanish, the language of the Latin-Americas, Nenor del' Vayo said. Me characterised General Franco as the /smallest" of the dictators, and under influence f.f bofb Hitler and Mussolini. Charging that the democracies did not appreciate the importance of Spain as thoroughly as did the dictatorships Mic exiled Spaniard warned that, "now you will see more Nazi and Fascist propaganda in Latin America. Thev will try to get hold of Latin American count lies through t lie Spanish influence on the basis of both business and political influence aL-aimt the interests of the United States." Difficulties Ahead. But he feels sure that the Spanish people will "resent" interference in their own affairs by foreign Powers, such as Germany and Italy, and, he added. "Now the ditiieulties" are "oiii" to start." e Asked about charges that the failure of the Loyalist cause in Spain was due to Communists, and Communistic influence, Senor del Vayo denied that the purchase of war materials from Russia in any way constituted a political engagement with the Communists. He admitted appointing some Communists as Commissars, but insisted that this was .-K.t through influence from Russia. but, because of the programme to prosecute the campaign to "save our country," he had called on able men horn all parties. Senor del Vayo denied that he was a member of the Communist party, but was a Socialist and a member of the executive council of that party in Spain. Asked about the number of Russian aviators in the Loyalist Army, Senor del Vayo said that at one time there were a "very few," estimated at about eight Russians to 5000 Italians in the rebel army. He insisted, however, that an independent survey under auspices of the League of Nations once had disclosed not one Russian in the Loyalist Army. New Menace to Democracies. One of the "greatest mistakes"' of the democracies, he said, was in "underestimating the strength of the Fascist movement, of Hitler, Mussolini, and of Franco." Now London and Paris may begin to realise, he continued, "what it is to have Franco in Spain." Senor del Vayo came to Washington in the interests of raising funds for Spanish refugees in French refugee camps. He said the Spanish Republican movement was being organised outside of Spain, but was vague about its specific programme for the present — (X.A.N.A.)