The Wanganui Chronicle "TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1937. THE EXHAUSTING OF PATIENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 248, 19 October 1937, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle "TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1937. THE EXHAUSTING OF PATIENCE

CINCE the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, which began as a military insurrection and was resisted by the civil population, the policy of Great Britain has been, all along to isolate the conflagration. In this she has had the continued support of France.

On the other hand it was evident from the beginning that Italy and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Germany was co-operating i with the insurgent forces and lending military aid in munitions, equipment and men. In doing this both Germany and Italy committed a flagrant breach of international law in that they made war on a friendly State.

The attack by the army naturally led to democratic sympathies being aligned on the side of the Government, for democracies are ever suspicious of army interference in politics. The fact that Fascist Governments were aligning themselves with the Spanish insurgents naturally also aroused the sympathy of proletarian Russia for the Government, and this sympathy had something of self-interest in it, for if Fascism flourished then, if their leaders’ words meant anything at all, the clash between Fascism and Communism would be inevitable and be brought one stage nearer. It was natural, therefore, for Russia to move to the aid of the Valencia Government.

The position of both France and Great Britain was, however, much more difficult, in that a simple line of action could not be taken. Obviously enough the intervention of Fascism in Spain was meant as an attempt to spread the implementing of that doctrine at the expense of democracies. And yet the two chief European democracies would help neither party, which in effect was to leave the Valencia Government without the equivalent of that support which the Burgos Government was receiving from the Fascist States. The policy pursued by the Governments of France and Great Britain, therefore, bore the colour of cowardice.

Even now, the whole of the piece is not fully revealed. There are probably reasons for this policy which even yet have not been mentioned. One of the main reasons, which has prompted Great Britain to continue in the line adopted, however, is that France, with its one-track mind, can only be expected to take action in its own interests. The interests of its allies and of Europe generally will only be preserved insofar as they coincide with the interests of France. France would not, in consequence of this mentality, move when the sanctions were to be enforced, and save to allow the British Navy to use French harbours in the Mediterranean, France was not prepared to enter upon an active policy on that occasion.

France to-day would be unwilling to enter into the arena on behalf of the Spanish Government, idealogy or no idealogy beingpresent would make no difference at all, nor would she move to assist Great Britain to retain, say, Gibraltar. But what France will move for is to preserve her own interests, and these interests are now being dangerously threatened by the Italian occupation of the Majorca and Minorca Islands. Were Italy able to cut the sealane between North Africa and Marsailles, then France would be unable to call up her colonial troops in defence of the soil of France.

The continuance of the parleys on non-intervention have been used by Italy as a means of gaming time in which to further its interventionist policy in Spain. France has hitherto been held in check—not unwillingly perhaps—by Great Britain in the matter of opening her frontiers to munitions and men reaching the Valencia and Barcelona Government, but her patience is waning as Italy persists and French interests are threatened. Mr. Eden, in his recent speech, has made a considered contribution to the international situation, and it goes much further than appears on the. surface. He has intimated that he will not criticise France if she takes action in the Spanish situation; that is to .say, if she opens her frontiers to the Barcelona and Valencia Governments. Coming after the recent speeches of President Roosevelt and Mr. Neville Chamberlain, the hint is as significant as a hint can be. It can be concluded that if Great Britain intimates that she will have no inclination to criticise France should her patience become exhausted, there will also be no lack of co-operation should the consequences become awkward for Powers who are not so intimately concerned about the peace of Europe.