The Northern Advocate. Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1939. The Fall of Barcelona

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1939, Page 4

The Northern Advocate. Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1939. The Fall of Barcelona

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper

THE long and heroic resistance of the city of Barcelona seems to have at last ended, and unless there is intervention from some unexpected quarter, its capitulation brings the close of the Spanish war perceptibly nearer.

Franco has now won the Largest and richest city in Spam, its greatest port, .and the centre of its greatest industries. This, added to the fact that he already controls the richest agricultural provinces, seems to assure him of final victory, and it now becomes merely a question of how Jong the remaining Loyalist territory can hold out against his superior army and ruthless aircraft.

It is difficult at any time to view with equanimity and detachment the spectacle of men of the same race fighting each other savagely and bitterly, but the Spanish war has, from the outset, been further complicated, by the aspirations of those nations which have openly assisted General Franco towards victory.

Their support gives them a strong claim upon General Franco’s future friendship, and, as those two nations, Italy and Germany, are the principal disturbing factors in international affairs, so the problems of those who are striving to preserve peace, amid all the present confusion of interests and ideologies, are in no way simplified by its impending victory.

The fall of Barcelona has, in fact, precipitated a situation which may easily deteriorate until another international crisis presents itself. The air is filled with rumours and forebodings. Talk of joint demands to be presented by Hitler and Mussolini may be mere speculation, but Mussolini’s action in calling up Italian reservists follows an ominously familiar pattern, while in Germany the dismissal of Dr. Sehacht was at once construed as a victory for the more aggressive and militant section of Hitler’s followers.

These events may indicate that the dictators deem the time ripe to present further territorial demands, but it is most, improbable thatjmrfh demands would be granted, in which ease the dictators would either have to light or back down. •*•---

There is a large section of opinion which believes that Hitler was bluffing last September, and that he and Mussolini would retreat if their bluff was called. This is pure speculation in a very dangerous field. Sir Charles Petrie, the historian, who regards a renewal of the traditional friendship between Britkin and Italy as essential to peace, asserts that Mussolini has never bluffed yet.

It is certainly an uncomfortable situation, but this, at least, is certain: it is difficult to see how intervention in Spain will improve it. Franco is in the ascendancy, and has brought settled government to the territory he controls. It is possible that if left alone to consolidate a unified Spain, he will eventually realise that it would be better in Spain ’s interests, to cultivate the friendship of Britain and France, rather than antagonise them by committing himself to an alliance with their potential enemies.