SPAIN AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 23560, 26 April 1940, Page 6

SPAIN AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.

To restore order out of the chaos caused by the civil war in Spain is the great task facing General Franco, who now holds the position of Prime Minister. In the meantime the opposing elements have been driven underground, though much in the way of pacification remains to be done. What had been giving concern to France and Britain since the present war broke out was the possible attitude of Spain in the struggle against totalitarianism. Italy and Germany helped Franco materially in his fight, and it was thought that in return for the Fuhrer’s assistance he might show goodwill of a passive kind. It was even suggested that the passage of German troops through Spain to the French border in the Pyrenees was a possibility. Pulling in the other direction, however, was the fact that Russia showed its sympathy in a practical way with Franco’s opponents. In addition, when Stalin and Hitler joined hands a new situation was created. General Franco is a devout son of the church. That comes first with him, so that in his heart he cannot have any sympathy with Hitler, who is its persecutor, or with Russia, which, apart from the aid it gave to his enemies, has officially proclaimed its antireligious doqtrines. General Franco has sufficient troubles of his own without taking either, direct or indirect sides with the totalitarian Powers. The civil war played havoc

with the country’s industries and its national life, and the Government is faced with financial and economic problems of the most serious kind. Help is needed, and so far back as November negotiations were begun for a loan from Great Britain, and a British trade and financial mission went to Madrid to begin discussions. The outcome was that a trade and payments agreement was signed last month, and this has been approved by Government and Opposition speakers in the House of Commons. An important point emphasised is that past commercial debts which had been unpaid as a result of civil war conditions would be settled and future transactions entered into with confidence. Further, the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs said the relations between Britain and Spain had been “ steadily improving,” which is particularly satisfactory in the special circumstances now existing. To give an idea of the destruction that was wrought in Spain by the civil war the Reconstruction Commission that was appointed to consider the position reported that national rehabilitation would cost £500,000,000. The Government subsequently announced a public works programme providing £107,000,000 for highways, irrigation, hydro-electric projects, and harbour repairs. General Franco intimated that his party would lead in carrying out without rancour a national revolution. It was reported that as an earnest of his good faith iji the matter he had pardoned thousands of political prisoners. In Spain political passions run deep. It will be interesting to see whether the terrible lesson of the civil war will have any effect in showing the folly of such convulsions. ' ,