Relief for Spain

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19315, 4 May 1937, Page 9

Relief for Spain

Sir,— Nothwithstanding "Democrat's" own opinion it is quite clear what side t.ne promoters of Spanish relief intend to help. One speaker at the meeting in Gisborne mentioned also helping the rebels, but he did not gel any support. What about those "poor unfortunates, the men, women, ami children," the victims of the cruel Communist barbarities, are they not also Cod's creatures? "Democrat" qoutcs it leading church diguutory lecturing in Ireland for the Government. I would like to know the name of this "leading church dignatory!" .There is a section of Basque Catholics supporting the Government; They have been si riving for years for their autonomy. In return for their support the Madrid Government agreed to ratify their nationalist programme. The Basques, or a part of them, have therefore put their national ideals before their religion. It would be- interesting to know their fate should the Common ists prevail. With regard to the statement "that the only churches destroyed by the Communists were those which the rebels had stored full of arms and ammunition," does "Democrat" know that before the civil war started, that is, between tho elections in February, 1936, and the rising in July, 165 churches were totally destroyed, 251 damaged by fire and assault, <i!> Catholic clubs destroyed. 10 newspaper offices burnt and I ">!»<> people killed and wounded.' Were these churches are full of arms and ammunition'.'—Yours, etc. rNP.TASSF,!).