Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1946 THE CASE AGAINST SPAIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 65, 20 December 1946, Page 4

Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1946 THE CASE AGAINST SPAIN

IT seems more than likely that before its discussions on the allegations against Spain have been completed, the Security Council will find that it is facing the most difficult problem of its brief but far from uneventful career. Poland is clearly acting as the mouthpiece of Communism when she asserts that certain activities behind the iron curtain which shuts out General Franco’s Spain from the rest of the world constitute a threat to world peace. But Poland has every right—in fact, it is a duty—as a member of the United Nations Organisation to draw attention to any actions which are considered inimical to that peace. Whether Poland is genuinely fearful for the safety of . the world, or is merely using the forms and Articles of, the Organisation’s Charter to further her new-found ideology is a matter which the nations must decide in their own minds. This insistence, however, is likely to put a strain on the diplomacy of the representatives of several countries. The charges that are made appear to be too factual to be ignored. It was proved beyond dispute, long before Poland’s indictment was published, that Spain was sheltering prominent German scientists within her borders, and it was no more than a reasonable conclusion that they were continuing their researches there. Spain has denied, with some asperity, that any .atomic research is being carried out in the country, and with a fine show of honesty she has invited those nations which have diplomatic relations with her to send commissions to verify these denials. This spacious gesture, however, has failed to convince nations less suspicious. One of the main interests in the Council discussion lies in speculation on -the alignments'it will produce. France, which is openly giving asylum to some thousands of Republican Spaniards, was the instigator of overt action against Spain .when she closed her frontier with that country a few weeks ago, but at the moment France is seeking large-scale credits from the United States, which, while condemning the Franco regime, is obviously reluctant to take any action that might supplant it with a Communist one. France’s position is one of some delicacy, therefore, with desire restrained by prudence. Great Britain’s policy is more or less consonant with that of the United States. The Soviet. Government, which 1 has never missed any opportunity of condemning Spain’s reactionary Government, will be sure ■ to support Poland, her favourite protege, to the limit, regardless of the consequences, but the Russian voice may carry , less weight in the Council now than it did before the Soviet declined to participate in an open discussion on her relations with Persia. Apart from the main Powers, however, Poland’s allegation that Spain is sponsoring, or at least conniving at, research into atomic power is bound to cause some unease among the smaller nations. On the face of things, investigation should not be difficult, since if Poland has proof that atomic researches being conducted in Spain she must be aware of the exact location in which it is being pursued. The Communist organ in Great Britain, assuming the role of “Little Sir Echo,” has in fact named the place. Whether or not an investigation can be made, one thing is certain, and that is that the Council is faced with a situation which will tax to the limit the combined ingenuity and goodwill of all its members. T ‘