Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1945. PLAIN WORDS FOR SPAIN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 212, 7 August 1945, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1945. PLAIN WORDS FOR SPAIN.

Spain’s position among' the nations of the world must be giving her totalitarian Government cause “furiously to think.” Assistance given to General Franco, when fighting his civil war against the Republican forces, by Hitler and Mussolini tied him to the two foremost dictators of Europe. His obligations to both these countries were to some extent fulfilled in the early and middle stages of the war, Germany receiving essential supplies and the assistance of an armed division to fight against Russia, and Italy help in various forms. General Franco could not then conceal his admiration for the totalitarian Powers, nor his delight that they would win the war. Rut as it progressed he became less happy of the ultimate outcome, and now that llie two dictators have met their deserts he is doing his very best to wriggle out' of on uncomfortable situation, not his alone but his country’s as well. The three Great Powers at Potsdam made Spain’s position in relation to the United Nations abundantly clear. Admission to their ranks, they have pointed out in their memorable Declaration, is open to any peace-loving State accepting’ the United Nations’ Charter and able to carry out its proposals. They will support an application from neutral States which fulfill these qualifications, but make it clear that they are not in favour of an application from the present Spanish Government, which “was founded with Axis support and in view of its origin, its nature, its record, and its close association with the aggressor States does not possess the necessary qualifications.” Spain has been stung by this biting reference to her inglorious record and in broadcasting the Declaration omitted ,the reference to herself. It has received wide approval. An official communique “rejects as arbitrary and unjust” the references to Spain and declares her intention at “home and abroad to collaborate in the work of peace to which she made a signal contribution by remaining neutral in the two most terrible wars of history.” In this war at least Spain’s purpose, as history well proves, was not to preserve peace but to preserve the dictatorships at all costs. Recently, General Franco has been fearful of the whirlwind that has followed his sowing of the wind. He asserts that Spain’s purpose is to have popular elections and a free Press. He also says he predicted disaster when Hitler was at the zenith of his power, yet in 1941 his declaration was that the Allies had lost the war. His admiration for Germany extended into 1942 when Hitler’s forces were being i hurled back from Moscow, and: he told his army officers at j Seville that should the Russians j open a way to Berlin not one division but a million Spaniards j would volunteer to go to Ger-; many’s aid. At that time Spain’s 1 Blue Division fighting south of Leningrad had been severely punished and reinforcements were being despatched to its aid. Inconsistent, too, with his former declarations is the statement that the Falange does not wield political power. Franco’s Spain has a long way to go before reconcili- j ation with the United Nations is j possible. She has to work a dif-, ficult passage,.