The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1937. SPANISH COMPLICATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 22682, 23 June 1937, Page 8

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1937. SPANISH COMPLICATIONS.

The Spanish war threatens more complications as it proceeds. Successive attempts reported to have been made by Loyalist submarines to torpedo the German cruiser Leipzig in the course of patrol duty last week were ugly incidents, following too many of a like kind that have occurred before. Luckily, in four attempts, the warship was not hit, and Germany has been content-to limit her resentment to a demand for guarantees against the repetition of such attacks, which she has made to the Powers conducting the patrol service. That procedure does not abolish difficulties, however, because, the Valencia Government denies the attacks —none of its submarines, it declares, were at sea at the time—and safeguards are not easy to devise. A conference representing Powers concerned agreed to seek more information, from Germany and also from neutral sources, and 'if the attacks were proved to require an apology from Valencia and threaten counter-action for future offences that might occur. There is a risk of this proving too leisurely a procedure for Germany, while British authorities are unwilling to pronounce guilt until the incident has been investigated. The Soviet has been quick to dissociate itself from the decision reached, on the ground that it was not represented at the conference. Another disturbing incident was the bombing, about the same time, by Spanish Government aircraft of an Italian steamer travelling on peaceful business. Fortunately in this case also there were no casualties, though there was considerable damage to the ship. The fact that both Germany and Itaiy have resumed their part iu the work of the Non-interven-tion Committee may appear as something less than a blessing, since at any time those Powers can call upon this mixed body to discipline the Spanish Government for acts which they make grievances, with a certainty that the committee will be divided. Anart from such side issues—able at any time to prove more important than its main one—the war, which was going in favour of the Valencia Government a few weeks ago, seems to be favouring now the other side. The capture of Bilbao is an important success for General Franco’s forces, since it gives them control of the wbolo north-east coast of Spain, added to control which since the capture of Malaga they have had of its southeastern coast. Tho most important port which the Spanish Government possesses is Barcelona, which is the capital of a virtually independent State. But Catalonia, always “ advanced,” is heart and soul with tho cause of Signor Negrin’s Government. Barcelona, with a population of over a million, is the greatest town in Spain, an industrial city in which ” —“ to-morrow,” symbol of the Spaniards’ natural love of procrastination—bears less sway than in any other. If the Barcelona industrialists bend their hades the Prime Minister’s assurance that he will soon have an army four times that of the insurgents, including their foreign recruits, may yet bo realised. If Madrid should fall, however, before that happens, the strongest of all discouragements would be given to the Loyalists, and it is they who, by their orders for ' the evacuation of the civilian population, have made the latest pronouncement of its expected fall. The Non-intervention Committee still hopes for an agreement by which foreign volunteers on both sides will be withdrawn from Spain. It should not be too much to believe that this will be accepted by Germany and Italy, because they were the first to propose it. If either of those Powers should bo engaged in a new war in Europe it would be of the greatest advantage to it to have Spain on its side, and, with a Government in Spain which owed its position to their good offices, they might hope to control Spanish- policy. If Berlin and Rome voluntarily withdraw their forces the indication will bo that they do not expect a wider war. Mr Nash has suggested that the League should force the withdrawal of foreign troops, and put Spain under a League mandate for a year. The League which found it impracticable and also inadvisable to apply force to Italy on a recent occasion is not likely to attempt to apply it to Germany and Italy at the same time. A League mandate to govern Spain for a year might be the best of all provisions to ensure a bloodless reconciliation of present differences and a new start for the future, but it is incredible that any single Spanish party would agree to it.