INTERNATIONAL NOTES

Grey River Argus, 5 March 1937, Page 10

INTERNATIONAL NOTES

BRITISH BRIGADE IN SPAIN. (Contributed by “Left Wing”) .. 'File Wiorkers’ Weekly, Wellington, says:—We have received the following from Comrade. Pollitt, leader of the Communist Party of Great Bri. lain.. “Many thanks indeed for your letter of the sth lust., and for your id’Oiuatiun collected through the “Workers’ Weekly” of £32 2s 9d (i.e., £4O N.Z. money) —for .the assistance to our Spanish’ comrades. J. hope you will express to all the readers of the “Workers' Weekly” our appreciation of 'the splendid assistance they have been able to give to the International Brigade. You will be 'interested to know, J am sure, that, the British Battalion o f the International Brigade is now over 800 strong and has al. ready covered itself with honour and distinction 'in beating back the offensive of Franco. It had been a very inspiring experience to note the internatioinal, solidarity that- the (Spanish fight for democracy has been able to evoke all over the world. For example by the same post I received your let. iter, I reeieved a letter from the Gold Coast in West Africa, and from New Guinea. It is the indication of how all the best people in The world desire to give practical support to the heroic fight being conducted by the International Brigade and Spanish Militia against the combined' forces of Hit. le.r, Franco and Mussolini. I regret that it i s not possible to get an aeknowledgement from some Spanish leader s because of fbo difficulty of con. nectionsj,»but you can rest assured that every penny you have sent will be spent in strengthening the work of the International Brigade.

TO CHECK REBELS.

In the region of Madrid the intiative is reported 'to have been, lost by the rebels. The Government army with experience ha s gained in mobility, discipline, and the arts of war generally. Its courage has always been of the high, est order. A number of captured rebels were tried and acquitted' by a People’s Front tribunal on, the, grounds that they had been fighting undei compulsion. This may have an ini. portant. effect upon the morale of the rebels, as it was announced that equal clemency will be extended t u others who surrender. In the long run, the superior morale of the Government tuoops may prove the decisive facto" A naval eond’on around the.. Spanish coasts, in which the Soviet Navy will participate, is to operate from Marc’’ 6. This blockade will be a step forward if it succeeds in accomplish, ting its avowed object—t'h'e stopping of arms and volunteers to Spain. If this is honestly done, the Spanish people will drive opt the foreign in. vaders.

It is believed that the eo"don was agreed o n as a result of Monsieur Corbin's veiled threat tio march two French divisions into Spain, ';f Germany and Italy did not step interfe ■ ing The latter countries will doubtless continue their interference as far as possble. Indeed, it is believed’ 'hat Italv intends Io poor tens of thousands .of troops int 0 Spain before the blockade becomes effective. If is disturbing ‘to note that the. German and Italian navies have the job of patrol.

Eng the Eastern (Mediterranean) Coast. If is to be feared that 'hey will close their eyes tc> their own troopships. Nevertheless, the development as a whole is to the good II will oblige the Germans and the Italians to act more cautiously. Evidently the French Government is becoming aware of the mil tary threat bo French security which is presented by the existence of a foreign army in Spain. CATHOLIC CHURCH. GLASGOW M.P. AND WIFE’S CRITICISM. Wellington “Workers’ Weekly” says: “'.Mrs McGovern, wife of John McGovern .Independent Glasgow M.P., walked out of St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Glasgow, one Sunday recently as a protest against a political attack by the officiating priest on the recent speech by John McGovern, M.P. backing the Spanish Government, against the rebels. Mr. McGovern had criticised the Church in ;S*pain and its attitude in supporting the rebellion against- the Republic. “I 'had no option but to walk out,” said Mrs. McGovern. Mr McGovern then got into touch with the Vtear.General of the Archdiocese of Glasgow and ask. ed him if the priest had been instructed to (deliver the political attack from the pulpit. The Vicar-Gen-eral’s reply was; “No, far from it.” The Viear.General stated: “The whole thing is regrettable. The pulpit should not be used for that purpose.” “Mr. James McGovern, Independent Labour Party member for (Parliament for a Glasgow constituency, has returned from Spain. At a meeting ho spoke (Of a difference between Catholic workers of Spain and the dignitaries of their Church, saying the former were fighting Fascism while the offi cial Church was backing it up. He said! that when (he returned from Spain it was t 0 find an under.current of allegations against him. “When 1 entered public life,,” he said, “I enter, ed not only tio support, the workers of Britain, but of the whole world.” He went on to state a Father Ryan, of Belfast, said the fight in Spain was a fight of the poor against the rich, and [ that Foreign Legionaries are to 'Spain what the Black and Tans were to ■ Ireland. Of Barcelona, a strong industrial town, he said, “I have seen . such poverty that even a man on the > Moans Test could scarcely understand.” I He told 'of the Asturian miners and s of their great bravery and sa.'d that. ; they were mostly Catholics, but the Church combined with the Fascists io shoot them down: 30. c-f them were

imprisoned. He bad travelled from Valencia to Barcelona and Madrid, where the organiser of the trade unions of Catalonia told him he should go back to Glasgow and tell the workers 'the truth. “I want you to ask any Parkhead, of Shettlcston or Glasgow worker this question,” he sa.'d “Supposing you were a tram worker, paid ."/. a wee-: and your w-f? and child-re-n were in the depths o f poverty and you came out on strike to demand higher wages. Then you discovered that blackleg labour was being organby the clergy and that 'nearly every, tiling wa s owned by the clergy- “ Driven to desperation, you were called till sorts of infidels if you attempted to tight for your bread and bult-er. Would you like enduring mis. erv lhat others might enjoy the wealth that you produce? “The largest stores in the country were owned by Jesuits,”

he declared. “Every cafe, bullring and dog.raeing track were all owned by Churches.” '. ■ There was considerable noisy interruption at this point, and McGovern said “No man will suppress me. Do you know that money to buy bombs is being collected In the churches in this country?” He went on to say that in Spain there is an overwhelming deter, mination to defeat Fascism. “If Franco was not being helped from outside,” he said, “the Government would win in 24 hours.”