MINERALS OF SPAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22777, 10 July 1937, Page 14

MINERALS OF SPAIN

Seeing that Britain normally imports annually nearly 1,000,000 tons of Spanish iron ore, roughly half the output, the present diversion of supplies to Germany from areas held by the insurgents will cause some embarrassment to British industry. The demand can be filled elsewhere, but probably at higher cost. But the mineral resources of Spain, which are very extensive — they include besides iron ore pyrites, copper ore, mercury, tin, wolfram, manganese ore, lead, coal, potash salts and sulphur have much wider importance in the civil war and its international repercussions. General Franco's strategy has been influenced to a considerable degree by the location of mines. Ho commands the important southern mineral centres of Iluclva and Bio Tinto, where the output of cOpper, sulphur and pyrites from Britishowned mines has been requisitioned in quantity'and sent to other parts of Spain and also to Germany and Italy. The Bilbao drive had iron ore mines as part of its object. General Franco desires to deprive the Government of resources and to secure assets for the purchase of further military assistance f fom Germany and Italy. The iron and steel, industries of both Germany and Italy arc suffering from a shortage of raw material, and General Franco's success would benefit both countries in their selfsufficiency plans in face of exchange difficulties. A few days ago Herr Hitler in a public reference to his four-years plan said: "Germany needs to import iron ore. That is why we want a nationalist Government in Spain." Whatever Government controls Spain in the future the minerals market of the country will be open to evcrv country which has purchasing power, so it is evident that one of the reasons for Germany aiding the rebels is to create a credit. It might be said that part of the price of German bayonets and blood is iron*