The Times TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1937. Spain's Agony

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 69, 23 March 1937, Page 4

The Times TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1937. Spain's Agony

The varying fortunes of the war in Spain have for the moment brought the loyalist forces a notable victory, and it would appear that the fall of Madrid is a long way off. Should the Non-intervention Committee succeed in controlling—or completely stopping—the inflow of foreign assistance the loyalists might now be able to hold their advantage, and the end would not then be very far away, for it is obvious that without substantial assistance, both financial and otherwise, Franco’s armies would not be able to hold their own.

Undoubtedly the sympathies of the great majority of English-speaking people are with the loyalists, a fact which shows just how hopelessly muddled is the situation in Europe. No sane Briton desires to see a Socialistic or Communistic Government ruling Spain, but still less does he desire to see a Fascist dictatorship in control, for a Fascist Spain would be a puppet State with the strings in the hands of Mussolini and Hitler who would use it to assist in the encirclement of France, and through France in the weakening of British power and prestige. in the world.

crushing defeat of the Italian legionaries last week was vdoub! dly one of the most dramatic and significant incidents n a <'■ : war whose issues have long since ceased to be confined to the original causes. Both Germany and Italy have poured in money, men and munitions to help Franco’s insurgent armies and without a doubt Russia—and possibly France also—has been liberally assisting the defenders of Madrid.

The Italian defeat must have given a good deal of quiet satisfaction to British political leaders, not merely because it may be the beginning of the end of a disastrous struggle, but because of the swashbuckling activities of 11 Duce, whose pride has suffered a severe blow in the dramatic reversal of a situation which two weeks ago appeared to be giving Fascists a great deal of satisfaction.

The rout of the Italians, however, may have dangerous repercussions. Mussolini may imagine that his battered prestige demands further assistance for Franco. It is obvious that the frequent delays which have taken place in bringing the Nonintervention Committee’s scheme of control into operation have been deliberately manoeuvred to allow and Germany to build up the strength of Franco’s forces to victory level, and now a heavy defeat has paralysed the rebel attack. Will Italy and Germany accept the situation and retire from their illconceived adventure with as good grace as possible, or will they prolong the agony of a nation w r hich has become the victim of international rivalries?

This dreadful struggle has kept Europe on the very edge of the precipice for months past, and until it is over no peaceloving statesman can have a moment’s respite from anxiety. It will be interesting to see whether those nations which Have deliberately prolonged the struggle to serve their own ends will come to the assistance of the torn and bleeding country which they have helped to lay waste.