ITALY AND SPAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22822, 1 September 1937, Page 12

ITALY AND SPAIN

On the wovd of Signor Mussolini, Italy has won a victory in Spain by the capture of Santander. He has confirmed by telegram to General Franco the popular expressions of gratification when news of the fall of the town reached Italy. Then there were demonstrations all night long. Cafes were bedecked with flags. Newspaper comment declared "the victorious Black Shirts" to be deserving well of Italy. Thus the Italian Legionaries in Spain, fighting for the insurgent cause, were praised in the country of their origin. This rejoicing might have been condoned as an irresponsible outburst of pride on the part of relatives and others instinctively moved to celebrate the prowess of. men in whom they were closely interested. Not so the action of Signor Mussolini in acknowledging General Franco's report of the capture. "This intimate fraternity in arms," II Duce has replied, "is a guarantee of final victory which will deliver Spain and the Mediterranean from the menaces against our common civilisation." Noting this exchange of congratulatory telegrams, the French Government has decided to protest to the Non-Inter-vention Committee, on the ground that his action amounts to official intervention. His message must be read in association with all else that is known with certainty of Italy's support of the insurgents—recognition of General Franco as head of an established Spanish Government, other public endorsement of his campaign, and undisguised reluctance to further the efforts of various Powers to isolate the civil war. Even by itself, however, the message is to be deplored as placing Italy side by side with the insurgents in a fight that is declared by him to be as much Italy's as theirs. Thus it breaks faith with the non-inter-vention understanding and virtually pledges Italy to an unresting endeavour to overthrow the existing Spanish Government. It seems to be another challenge to the hardpressed Nori - Intervention Committee,