THE SPANISH WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 22573, 15 February 1937, Page 13

THE SPANISH WAR.

TO THE EDITOR. s; r __l n reply to “ M’s ” _ criticism of my not mentioning Russia in my letter of tho 11th, my particular reason foe doing so was because in all the British and Dominion Press tho viewpoint expressed is one in which the Spanish war is a civil war, based on rival ideologies, Fascist v. Communist, whereas I desired to show that the Spanish war is a preconceived tactical method of tho Fascist countries to carry out an aggressive war inspired by the lust for colonial expansion, and is the direct consequence of the Italian conquest of Abyssinia and the Japanese invasion of China, and the vacillating policy of the countries signatory to the League of Nations Covenant. There aro two policies facing the people of the world to-day. Ono is the policy of collective security against aggression and strengthening international solidarity by means of the League of Nations Covenant and regional nonaggression pacts within this framework. This is the peaco policy pursued by the Soviet Union. Tho other is tho policy of giving way to the aggressor and trying to localise and isolato eventual war conflicts. This is the policy pursued by Great Britain, inevitably resulting in war. The impunity accorded the aggressor in tho case of Spain is giving a terrible impetus to Fascist plans of aggression in tho rest of Europe. The tragic vacillation and impotence of the League of Nations has undermined the faith of tho smaller States in its power to save them from a similar fate to Spain. The significance of Belgium’s turn to neutrality is the weakening of the principle of collective security, the outcome of the attitude adopted towards Fascist aggression in Spain. The fight for peace and the principles underlying the League of Nations does not consist in academic discussions, but in actual defence of the principles of the Covenant, in defence of Spanish democracy against Fascist aggression. The interests of peace demand that the Spanish people as well : as the other independent States of Europe be effectively protected against the in form of Fascist aggression. The Fascist line towards war is perfectly clear. It consists in isolating its enemies by breaking down the support for collective security, and the tight against the Franco-Soviet Pact, and in fomenting civil war and opportunities for intervention in countries where Fascism has its adherents on the same plan as that operated in Spain. Tho colonial war of aggression in Spain is not an end in itself. German Fascism strikes through Spain at democracy and national independence in France, .and on towards the attack on the other European countries and the final world domination. There can be no victory for peace without tho victory of Republican Spain. There can be no victorious Spanish Republic unless all signatories to the League Covenant carry out their obligations under its terms and support the Soviet Union in its attempt to check the Fascist aggressor. I made no mention of Russia, because she is carrying on the fight for world peace, and ns our Government supports the policy of collective security a widening of tho public understanding of what our duty should bo in the Spanish situation might lead to a more determined policy being adopted against Fascist aggression in Spain than has been shown up to now. Peaco is indivisible. Save tho peace of the world by stamping out Fascism in Spain by collective action under the League of Nations, or mutual assistance pacts.—l am, etc., February 13. Samuel I kin. [Mr Ikin, in effect, accuses the Fascist countries, rightly or wrongly, of copying the methods that were pursued by the Russian International, with a view to tho “world revolution,” in half the countries of the world-. Ho accuses General Franco of making a revolution so that Spain might be. divided between Germany and It ah’.— Ed. E.S.]