THE NEW SPAIN

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22768, 21 July 1939, Page 15

THE NEW SPAIN

TO THK EDITOR 0* TH» PRESS. Sir, —The concluding sentences ol your second leading article to-day, headed "The Fascist Creed in Spain,” rather let the cat out of the bag. It seems that the real reason for press criticisms ol the new Spain is that she refuses to come hat in hand to the “providers of foreign exchange”—a nice euphemism for the International usurers! She prefers to work hard and even to go short of luxuries rather than fall into the hands of the moneylenders. „ . I have 5L6 points of the Spanish Traditionalist Phalanx here before me, and X cannot agree that it is a Fascist programme. Some few points may be borrowed from the Fascist and Nazi systems, more come from the Papal encyclicals and the Portuguese system, and most of them are original Spanish answers to Spanish problems. I should like to quote them all if space allowed, but I must at least quote point 25, to which you refer as “but a cursory reference to the Church.” This Is it; "The National movement incorporates the Catholic Faith—of glorious tradition, and predominating in Spain —in the national reconstruction. The Church end State, two separate entitles, will agree in their respective faculties. The Church will not intervene in politics. and will be protected by the State, but no activity will be permitted which could belittle the dignity of the State or the national unity." . , I think it la rather soon to speak of “the long delay In the formation ol the promised new Government." Thewar is scarce three months finished. There is an efficient government in being and it would be madness to start experimenting with new forms of government until the country has settled down again to the normal peace-time c nditlons. Meanwhile, recent visitors to Spain found plenty of “bread and butter,” not to mention wine and fruit and meat and vegetables, In spite of the lack of foreign exchange.—Yours, etC " G, F. SEWARD. Lincoln, July 17, 1939.