A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 106, 28 January 1939, Page 7

A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Spanish Civil War With the fall of Barcelona it would appear that General Franco is well on the way to a rebel victory in the Spanish Civil War. The civil war began in July, 1936, as a defensive struggle of the constitlonally elected Government of Spain against a revolutionary plot. The spark which set the present blaze alight was the murder of Senor Calvo Sotelo on July 13, 1936. He was the outstanding political figure of the Spanish right. His death followed the assassination of a lieutenant of the Government police by Fascist snipers. On the night of July 18 reports came into Madrid showing that revolt was spreading to province after province. Soon the two extremes were at each other’s throats. “The Republicans are fighting for ideals of liberty long since secure in other lands, the Fascists for traditions venerated for centuries,” wrote “Thh Times” special correspondent from Madrid. How Will Franco Govern?

If General Franco and. his rebel forces win what will be his form of government? At the start of Franco’s rebellion there were in Spain the Falangista Espanola, a Spanish Fascist organization, founded by Jose Primo de Rivera, and the Requetes, or Carlists. Franco merged these groups into a single organization called the Falanga Espanola Tradicionalista de los Jona, an organization essentially Fascist in its outlook and aims, and closely resembling its precursors in Italy and Germany. ‘The Falanga is a movement, not a party,” said a prominent supporter of General Franco. “It is not a State but an inspiration and the nervous system of the State, and guardian of the national revolution. In' Germany' the party is above the State; in Italy it is subordinate to the State, but in Spain it is neither. The State is static, but the movement is dynamic and keeps up tension just as the Nazis and Fascists do. It has much the same ends, too, since it represents a permanent revolution.

“The Falanga has not so much a programme as a point of view.., It is syndicalist, not socialist. ... It has members from all classes —peasants, workers and middle class —and includes many former Socialists and Communists. ...

“The State we purpose to establish will govern national economy through syndicates. When employer and worker come into conflict, the State will intervene and have the last word.” Franco has said that the new Spain will demand a pre-eminent place in Europe, refusing to tolerate international isolation and foreign interference. He pledges that Spain will again become a great maritime Power, Spain And The Powers

Victory for General Franco in Spain may have important consequences for the British Empire and France. It is generally conceded that General Franco could not possibly have reached to the stage he has without the help of men, armaments, munitions and aeroplanes supplied from Germany and Italy, and the lack of equal assistance to the Spanish Government on the part of Great Britain and France, who have pursued a policy of non-intervention,

Last year Italy declared that she had no territorial and no political aims, and did not seek any privileged economic position in Spain. This statement, however, has never been taken seriously, for the reason that nobody believes that Italy and Germany have rendered General Franco the assistance they have without requiring something of value in return. Germany, it is held, will be satisfied with economic advantages—trading facilities and the iron ores for which Spain is famous. To Italy, Spain is of considerable strategic importance. A Spain, too, untrammelled by foreign influences is vital to France and Great Britain. Spain is a territory flanking one of the main lines of communication between Great Britain and the East. That is the reason why the freedom and security of the Mediterranean are of vital interest to the British Commonwealth.

Spain and Spanish Morocco lie across the western entrance to the Mediterranean, so that a foreign Power in control of these territories would control one of the most important gateways in the world (as important to Britain as anyone else). Such a. foreign Power would also be able to threaten communication between Great Britain and Africa in war time.

If Spain is in the hands of a hostile Power, the problem of Britain’s food supply and of Britain’s defences would be profoundly affected. It is of the utmost importance to the whole of the British Commonwealth that Spain and her overseas possessions (specially Morocco) remain in control of the Spaniards. Where Stands Britain?

Only last month Mr. Neville Chamberlain said that Britain had no obligations to go J:o the assistance of France on behalf of France’s colonies. But he also said that though Britain and France had no military alliance the two countries had identical interests. Geography and self-interest, however, would compel Britain to go to the assistance of France. Mr. Chamberlain’s speech was not too well received in Paris, though it was greatly approved in Berlin and Rome. For what would Britain fight? She is bound to defend the territory of the British Empire against any attack from any quarter in any part of the world. The obligation is obvious but enormous. She is pledged by treaty obligations repeatedly reaffirmed to keep the territory of Egypt and Iraq inviolate from foreign foes. She is pledged to the hilt to defend France and Belgium against unprovoked aggression under the Locaaio Treaty obligations, which were re newed and stiffened lly staff con-mira-tions after Germany occupied the Rhineland. Added to it is the commitment implied in all British history of the past 300 years to defend the Netherlands. For it has always been the basis- <-f British foreign policy that no great Power shall be allowed to establish Itself in the Low Countries—which mean Holland as well as Belgium Th'.# applies, too, should Japan try to take Dutch East Indies.