Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 8th.. 1936. SPAIN AND THE POWERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 August 1936, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 8th.. 1936. SPAIN AND THE POWERS

'J’HE Spanish revolt is proving

to be a much more serious aliair than was at first, thought. The struggle has been proceeding for weeks, at an enormous cost of life and property, although all the accounts of carnage and destruction cannot bo true. Victories are claimed every day by both the Government and the rebels, and were half these claims justified, each side would have

>von long ago. The difficulty of knowing .just what is happening is proved by the lack of information in British semi-official messages, but it would seem that the balance, so far, is in the Government’s favour. The British navy, as usual, has been prominent in the work of rescue, and the large force concentrated near Gibraltar is not without significance. The rebels are Fascists more than Monarchists, the Socialists' and Communists supporting the I

Government. The main tighting started in Morocco, where the rebels won considerable success. Had the navy and air force supported them, their path would have been easy, and Madrid must have fallen ere this. As it is, the rebels claim to have overcome or evaded the Government fleets and planes, sufficiently so to have landed a strong force in Southern Spain. The rebels had laid their plans with some skill, and must have received practical encouragement from Italian sympathisers, with aid in a lesser form from Germany. Russia, was on the side of the Government, France would prefer the present regime to a Fascist dictatorship, and Britain, whilst strictly neutral, probably has similar wishes to those of France.

Recently, a danger arose of active intervention on behalf of the rebels by Italy, and perhaps Germany, but this peril has been averted, temporarily at least. French proposals that the Powers should observe neutrality have been provisionally accepted by all the nations addressed, and there is hope, to-day, that the wider menace will not materialise. The diplomatists will be kept busy for the next few weeks, and it is to be hoped they will succeed in keeping peace between the Powers, and also mediate successfully between rival Spanish factions. As it is, the legacy of the civil war must retard Spain’s progress and recovery for a generation. British public opinion will have little sympathy with either a Soviet-ridden Spain, or a Fascist dictatorship, but Britain and the Empire cannot afford to be indifferent as to events in Spain. It is not a question of interference, but of safeguarding the Empire’s welfare.

Were Spain macle another Austria, governed really from Rome or Berlin, a serious position would arise. Happily, Italy is losing some of her war-fever. She is experiencing trouble in Abyssinia, and needs quiet in Europe to make good the cost of her Abyssinia adventure. Mussolini seems sincere in his expressed desire to revive Anglo-Italian friendship. The forthcoming conference of the Locarno Powers will decide many questions besides those immediately on the agenda. Meanwhile, Britain is strengthening her armaments, and the longer any clash is delayed, the more she will bo prepared to defend the Empire’s interests. She has learnt a lesson from recent events, and her increasing strength will be one of more important factors making for world-peace.