NON-BELLIGERENCY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 184, 10 July 1940, Page 3

NON-BELLIGERENCY

SPAIN'S CHANGE IN POLICY! The Spanish Government has announced that Spain's attitude towards the Alliles and Germany and Italy would be one" of nonbelligerency." Spain's policy was formerly described as neutral. It is regretfully feared in London that this decision of General Franco | weakens the value of his oft-repeat-ed protestations of neutrality, be*cause the term "non-belligerency," after the experience of Italy, is taken to mean the same as "waiting to pounce." The cries of "We want Gibraltar"' which inaugurated Sir Samuel Hoare's mission when he arrived at Madrid as Ambassador for Great Britain are now seen as demands for the Spanish equivalent of the German "Lebenstraum" (living space.) A catchphrase running through this Spanish press clamour is "the new Spanish Empire," to which Spain is said to be entitled to virtue of her former conquests. The Madrid newspaper Alcazar says: "Besides approximately 135,000 square miles already possessed in North, North-west and West Africa, Spain should have 100,000 siquare miles in equatorial West Africa. Whatever the issue of this war, justice must be done to us. We are not slight enemies nor ruled or isolated as we were before."' The sudden adoption of non-belli-gerency also gives weight to the first Spanish comment on Italy"s entry into the war, namely, that Italy was not fighting a beaten enemy, but one Avith a army intact. Thus it can now be seen that Italy had no sooner taken the plunge than the Spanish propaganda machine began to prepare the Spanish people to risk the same condemnation which was poured on Italy from all over the world. It has long been feared that General Franco would be unable to withstand the weight of Senor Suner's fanatical Falangists (Fascists), backed by the menace of a "putsch" by the well-Organised German Fifth Column, which is reported to number 60,000 in Barcelona alone. The number of Germans still hold ing positions of importance in Spain is estimated at between 50,000 and 60,000.