FROM WEEK TO WEEK

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1944, Page 8

FROM WEEK TO WEEK

(By

H. Winston Rhodes)

SPAIN AND THE AXIS Recent negotiations with 'the neutral European countries deserves some comment, if only from the piont of view of differentiating between the attitudes of those countries towards fascism. Sweden has been unable to accede to the Allied requests about the cessation of the export of war materials to Germany. Turkey has agreed to change her policy. Spain has tried to make the best of two policies.

Let no one imagine however tha acceptance or- rejection of the Allied note is a sufficient indication o whether the Governments concerned are fascist or anti-fascist in character. No doubt their decisions were reached after a careful con sideration of their geographical position, of their desire to keep out of the war, and of their political sympathies.

Sweden’s decision has been mainly due to the fact that like Switzerland to whom no request seems to have been made, she is surrounded ny territory under control of the Nazis or their sympathisers. Refusal ‘ to export war material to Germany would mean that her food supplies would be considerably reduced, and whether or not she remained al peace with Germany her position would be desperate.

Since the advance of the Red Army into the Balkans,- Turkey’s strategic position has greatly improved, with the result that she is able to offend Germany and feel reasonably confident that retaliation will not take the form of invasion. Furthermore her communications with the Allied powers are open for trade

Neither of these countries can be regarded as sympathetic in their attitude towards the Nazis. The very fact that Sweden has been a’ land of comparatively comfortable exile for escaping Danes is sufficient proof of her lack of sympathy with the forces of Nazi oppression. _ Turkey, although eager to remain out of the war, has never disguised her preference for the Allied cause.

But Spain is in a diffent position. From the geographical point of view Spain’s fascist dictatorship has no desperate need to fear Germany at this stage of the war. If the political sympathies of Franco and his associates were inclined towards the United Nations, Spain would have no reason to fear that she might be starved into submission to Hitler. But from the early days of the war Franco has not attempted to disguise his .adherence to the policies and war aims of his formei task-masters Spanish soldiers have been active on the western front, fighting side by side with the Nazis.

Franco’s attitude has been cleai. He had hoped for an Axis victory, and is now desperately afraid that he has backed the wrong horse. He still fears that if the Allies win, at least one of the United Nations will be eager to do everything possible to break not only the power of fascism in Central Europe, but also on the Iberian Peninsula.

Franco is fully aware that the destruction of fascism may mean the destruction of his regime and power. For • this reason Spain, Franco’s Spain, still hesitates. Wolfram exports to Germany are to be reduced Spaniards are to be withdrawn from the Eastern front. The movements of Nazi agents inside are to be restricted. In return for these concessions the Allies are to resume sending oil to Spain.

This partial and grudging acceptance of the Allied terms in no way indicates that Franco has undergone a change of heart. All it means is that he is now doubtful about the possibility of an Axis victory, and is preparing to change horses in mid-stream.

As far as the Spanish people are concerned this will imply no alteration in the fascist structure of Spain itself, and the peoples of the United Nations should consider well whether the resumption of oil exports to Spain is sufficiently coun-ter-balanced by Spain’s new promises, and whether or not an Allied victory against fascism is to leave the Spanish people under the yoke of fascism.

The present war began as far back as 1936 in Spain, and it was at that time that Britain and other countries strove to keep aloof from the struggle thus strengthening and helping fascism and increasing the problems of the United Nations today.

We have still a great debt of honour to pay to democratic Spain, to the suffering Spanish people, and we must not allow that debt to be Wiped off by the .grudging .concessions of General Franco,—nor imagine that by sending oil to Franco we are thereby sending democracy .to Spain.