INDEPENDENT SPAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 28 October 1941, Page 3

INDEPENDENT SPAIN

A MOVEMENT AFOOT OPPOSITION TO FRANCO ANII SUN Ell Under the impetus of an appeal j launched by former Premier Juan . Negrin on the occasion of the fifth an- ! niversary of the outbreak of the I Spanish civil war, an -independent j Spain” movement has developed lately | and is assuming serious proportions, 1 writes Mallory Browne in the “Chrisl tian Science Monitor ” j Reports accumulating here, not only from Spanish Republican refugee sources but also from official sources in Madrid, indicate clearly that resistance to the Axis-dominated FrancoSuner regime is increasing in scope and violence and is even taking the form of guerrilla warfare in some renude districts of Spain. From Gibraltar comes news that a "Freedom Radio” calling itself “Independent Spain” has begun to radioeast three times weekly urging the Spanish people to rise in revolt against ! General Francisco Franco and his Foreign Minister Ramon Serrano Suner. The radiocasts denounced both these Spanish chiefs for their servility to the Nazis Otner reports reaching here, some of them apparently via Tangier, speak of persistent rumours of disturbances in Spain and mention particularly Cadiz and the Canary Islands. At the same time recent radiocasts from Radio Malaga spoke of resistance to the regime and growing sabotage and emphasised the necessity of fighting these guerrilla enemies of the State. From Spanish refugee sources it is learned that at least two underground newspapers, “Mundro Oberero” and "Juventud,” are being printed and circulated widely in Spain, while Repulican leaflets in large quantities are being distributed clandestinely in cafes of larger cities. PROGRESS CERTAIN Although definite confirmation of most of these reports naturally is not obtainable, it is possible to state that the "independent Spain” movement, embodying all Spanish Republican elements who were defeated by General Franco’s Nationalists in the recent civil war, is making definite progress. This progress dates principally from two major milestones in the movement. The first was the meeting in Mexico City, on 16th February, 1941, at which a Republican joint manifesto was signed This manifesto received the approval of representatives of every group in the "Spanish People’s Front.” It declares that ‘'all will fight on and contribute toward co-ordinated activity moved by unrestrainable force against terror and starvation, against the entry of Spain into the war.” and it concludes by proclaiming the aim of the movement as “the reconquest of a people’s and democratic republic that shall restore its liberties to our people, assure the rights and liberties of Catalonia and the Basque country, peace, work, and well-being for all.” The second major milestone in the ‘‘independent Spain” movement was the meeting in London on 20th July, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the civil war. Dr. Negrin—who had sent a telegram voicing solidarity with the Mexico City manifesto—was the principal speaker at the meeting, which though private brought together nearly 700 of the “Free Spaniards” in London. Senor Negrin in his speech gave the signal to all Spaniards, both within and without Sain, to unite forces and throw themselves into the fight against Fascism and dictatorship. "If Hitler wins,” he said, “Spain, like the rest of the countries of Europe and of the world, will see itself condemned to the most abject slavery without a glimmer of hope of redemption. By patriotic obligation and for the sake of our own individuality, it is the duty of Spaniards to do nothing that will help and to do everything they can to hinder and halt the Apocalyptic beast of Nazism, the greatest danger that humanity has ever known since the beginning of j history. REVOLT SEEN NEAR Declaring that the hour of revolt was about to strike, Senor Negrin affirmed that actual resistance has already begun. “In the villages, in the mountains and countryside, and in the cities, in schools and in workshops, the people are continuing the struggle,” he declared. By saying that the "progressive democracies of the world are with us in this struggle,” Senor Negrin implicitly aligned Free Spain in the democratic front. Senor Negrin recalled a tact which has assumed particular significance now that the nature of the war as an international revolutionary conflict has become clearer. He characterised the Spanish civil war as ‘‘the first engagement of the present world conflict,” and reminded listeners that Spanish Republicans had in 1936 called Madrid the “first battle of the World War.” Free Spaniards in London and elsewhere who are behind the "independent Spain” movement stress the Importance of this attitude toward the civil war because its acceptance would tend to give them a firmer place beside other free governments here whose future hopes are bound up with a British victory over the Axis So far it is definitely premature to talk of a Free Spanish Government in Britain. But the appearance of the “independent Spain” movement is bound to become of great potential importance in the event of Nazi passage through the Iberian Peninsula which would bring Spain within the list of occupied territories. For even if General Franco, Senor Serrano Suner, and the Falangists don’t resist the Nazis, the presence of German forces on Spanish soil is certain to stir up even moie resistance and opposition among the people than is now troubling General Franco.