THE WAR IN SPAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23578, 15 August 1938, Page 15

THE WAR IN SPAIN

10 THE EIUTOK Sir,—“V. R. C.” seems to resent my calling him a pro-Fascist, and “Avila” even says that General Franco is not that, but a Falangist, by which he means a person who believes in government by military dictatorship, no doubt along lines such as those of Primo de Rivera. To most readers who espouse democracy, this cavil over titles which are allied closely, if they are not actually synonymous, will seem a farce unworthy of serious consideration. I would respectfully point out to “ V. R. C.’’ that the London Times is a noted Tory paper, the political views of which are far from being impartial, and which has one of the smallest circulations in London. Papers, like individuals, need careful scrutiny before one accepts as facts their so-called news. If “V. R. C,’ is not willing to believe the evidence of an inter-party committee comprising six members of the House of Commons, I think he must be an unusually difficult man to convince. Does he suggest, or expect us -to assume, that those six gentlemen were ignorant of the facts about the state of Spain, or that they did not know how to investigate affairs there, or that, having done so, they deliberately perjured themselves to favour the Spanish Republicans? lam not in the least embarrassed, nor do. I blush to contemplate my two previous letters. Social justice, which “V. R. C." says he supports, is a very vague term, and may be made to include measures of a most contrary import. Personally speaking, I cannot include an armed rebellion, aided by foreign arms and money, against a constitutionallyelected Government, as being an example of social justice. I still consider that the Franco party of rebels in Spain is responsible for all excesses committed, because if they had not made a revolution no would have been wrecked and no civilians killed* The case was made worse by German and Italian bombers, and it is to repair the havoc and mitigate the suffering which the innocent Republicans now endure that the Spanish Medical Aid Committee exists. Some critics, including “V. R. C.," object to a Government based on a minority of the total votes cast, but this objection, although at first sight a strong one, does not alter the fact that when two political parties contest an election and a result occurs unfavourable to one, the loser is not morally justified in a resort to arms. He has played the game in accord with the rules and should abide by the verdict given. Next election he may then be able to reverse the decision peacefully, and may even be able to alter the electoral law to avoid its inequitable features. I admit that it is not easy to devise an electoral system free from all objections, but even a bad one is better than a revolt. The rebels in Spain deserve no support, no sympathy, no honour and no money. Their cause is so worthless and untenable that its friends in New Zealand have to resort to abuse of me, and of the Spanish Medical Aid Committee m order to reply to the facts we have both stated against Franco. I leave your democratic readers, and those who see the strategic menace of a Fascist Spain to our ally, France, in the next big war to decide on which side their money and support shall be given. A victory fpr Franco in Spain is a prob-. able source of future loss to Britain in the Mediterranean. If for no other reason, that is why we in New Zealand should do our utmost to defeat Franco, and the simplest way to do that is to abolish the hypocritical pretence of noh-intervential in Spain, and give every possible aid to the Republicans in their heroic struggle to free their country from the German, Italian and Moorish invaders. Let Spain be Spanish, not walk in the path of Man churia, and so become a puppet state, and a tool of Hitler and his war-crazed Nazis. Our Empire should loyally support democracy, not Fascism. —I am, etc., 458.

TO THE EDITOB Sir, —Seeing that there are so many different views as to the reasons for and objects of the terrible struggle that is going on in Spain, one does not know what to think or which is in the right; but, to use a figure, there may be many thrills during the progress of a big fire, and there may be many occasions to commend or criticise the fire brigades, but the main question will still be. How did the fire start? So with the Spanish trouble. Would I be correct in saying that the trouble commenced as a result of the Republican Government attempting to break the stranglehold of the ambitious lust of the Papacy, claiming both secular and ecclesiastical power and making slaves of the people by ignorance and superstition?—l am, etc., T. W. S. [Our correspondent asks us for a simple affirmative or contradiction of his question. It is not answered so easily as all that.—Ed., O.D.T.]

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —The anonymous letters attacking the Spanish Government and the Spanish Medical Aid Committee are obviously inspired by the agents of General Franco, and all bear the unmistakable stamp of having been concocted under Fascist influence and direction.

We wish to deal in particular with the letter by “Avila,” from Wellington, dated August 10, because it is a choice example of typical Fascist propaganda. In consideration for the space available in your columns, we will not be able to deal in detail with the attack by “Avila ” on our committee, but hope to show how far from the truth such an attack is. The usual trick employed by Fascist agents of attempting to prove that “ Red horror ” existed in Spain and was part of an alleged Moscow conspiracy is extensively used. Then upon this false premise is built the further false statement that our organisation is more conspicuous for “ Red ” propaganda than for medical aid. The Spanish loyalists are, of course, described by “Avila ” in the usual Hitler and Mussolini style as Bolshevists. As “Avila ” knows perfectly well, all persons of even liberal, humanitarian or progressive views, let alone Socialist or Communist views, are branded as “ Red Bolshevists ” by Hitler and Mussolini. They do this in order to frighten people into accepting their wild plans for world conquest. Such plans for world conquest logically depend upon the-acquiescence of the majority of the peoples, or at least upon their apathy. The peoples of China and Spain are in arms against the attempt to enslave them. The people of France, united in the Popular Front, have clearly demonstrated that they will not allow their rights to be trampled on. The peoples of China and Spain have the complete and active support of thousands of eminent persons in all countries, and the Spanish Medical Aid Committee of England includes Lord Addison, Professor Julian Huxley, the Earl of Listowel. Miss Megan Lloyd George, Dr Maude Royden, Sir Archibald Sinclair, Viscount Churchill and many other equally prominent persons. Besides these active workers on the committee, there are thousands of leading politicians, clergy of all denominations, professional men, trade unionists, authors, actors and others fully supporting the Spanish Medical Aid Committee in the work of rendering aid to the sick and wounded in loyalist Spain and desiring to see a victory for the Spanish Government. „ . , , The New Zealand Spanish Medical Aid Committee is in an exactly simi-

lar position and has worked closely, with the English and Australian committees. Your readers will readily understand that, before people make donations to a fund, the organisers must make an appeal, and what more effective method than through men and women who have been to Spain and have first-hand knowledge of the situation and the needs of the people? In conclusion, we cannot too strongly warn your readers against being misled by the agents of Fascism in New Zealand, who, it will be noted, shelter behind nom de plumes—l am, etc., E. W. Hunter.

Spanish Medical Aid Committee Dunedin. August 13.