The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1916. SPAIN RESENTS GERMAN OUTRAGES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2750, 19 April 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1916. SPAIN RESENTS GERMAN OUTRAGES

It is not surprising that Germany's lawless methods of submarine warfare have caused an outburst of indignation in Spain. No self-respect-ing nation oan permit its citizens to be murdered without protest. The Madrid correspondent of the Times states that the sinking of two -Spanish vessels and the death of Senator Granados, who was a passenger on the Sussex when she was torpedoed, have thoroughly roused public opinion, and a section of 'the Liberal Press is demanding that the Government shall vindicate the dignity and rights of the nation. Spanish trade is already suffering by reason of the shortage of tonnage, and a further reduction may have serious consequences. Spain has maintained an attitude of strict neutrality, and the Spaniards very naturally lesent the sinking of their ships. Why should they bomade to suffer simply because Germany hates Britain 1 Spain can hit back if she thinks fit, for a large fleet of Austrian and German merchantmen are sheltering in her harbours. Without actually going to war she might easily increase the difficulties of the Central Powers, The energetic manner in which the German propaganda has been carried on in Spain since the beginning of the war may be regarded as a proof that Germany places a high value on the goodwill of the Spaniards, and the knowledge that Spain is in a position to retaliate effectively may, cause the Gorman Government to pay some heed to her protest. The Germans have done their utmost to make friends-of the Spaniards, and their propaganda has met with considerable success. The neglect of the British authorities to counteract German efforts" to influence public opinion in Spain has been recently discussed in the London Press, and Spanish newspapers have also given some attention to this matter. In' admitting the existence of a considerable current of pro-German opinion, the fipoca contends that Britain and France have no reason to be surprised. The German puts his faith into practice. He reads the newspaper which.is on his.side; he advertises :in the periodical -which stands for his cause ;he spends money in editorial enterprises, sending out picture . post-cards,.' illustrated papers, pamphlets, and books. _ His is a patriotism in constant activity; After stating these facta the Epoca asks: "Do 'the French and English feel sure that they have done as much! Eor if it is not so, if through confidence or disdain they have not acted like the Germans, can they now complain 1 They should not bs surprised—we say it loyally—at what they are themselves to blame for." It is''stated that one of the best_ known 'of Spanish illustrated periodicals lost heavily by the withdrawal of German advertisements, owing to its sympathy with Britain, but it did not get any advertisements from English firms trading with Spain to make good the loss it sustained by its. advocacy of our cause-

Opinions'differ as to the way in which the sympathies of the Spaniards are divided between the Allies and the Central Powers. The Abbe Lugan, • who ■ recently spent five months in Spain, arrived-at the conclusion thatthe- great majority of the Spaniards hope for the victory of the Allies. This, majority is composed of"Republicans, Liberals, a very large section of tta Conservative followers of Senou Dato, and the greater part of the commercial men and manufacturers. The hostile minority is, with a few exceptions, composed . of the Oarlists, the Integrists, tho clergy, the military officials, and the aristocracy. Commenting upon the Abbe Lugan's reference to the attitude of the Spanish clergy, the London Tablet states that there is some ground for hoping that, he has generalised too rashly from particular instances/ The Roman Catholic Bishop of Southwark has also visited Spain recently—more recently than the Abbe Lugan—and he had many opportunities of conversing with [bishops and mcmbers_ of religious I communities. He thinks that "the I number of pro-Germans ii in reality I very small and will be found chiefly among the military, wlu admire German methods of training soldiers, and also'among the clergy." The Bishop reminds us that, owing to Spain's neutrality, France has'been ablo to withdraw her soldiers from flic Spanish frontiers' "It would," ho nays, "be an easy matter to have the whole Spanish nation completely on our side if only we acknowledge mistakes of the past and try to understand Spain bettor, not despising the many sterling qualities which the Spaniards have." The Times endorses tho views of the Bishop, in the main, and states that the. most eminent representatives of art, ccienco, and letters have expressed heartfelt sympathy with the Allies, while the Press, with a few exceptions, either maintains a careful'impartiality 'or is frankly favourable to tho Allied cause, It would be un-

gracious to ignore the fact-that at the beginning of the war, . the French, acting on the personal assurance of King Alfonso, were able to transfer several army, corps from the Spanish frontier to the fighting line. It should also be borne in mind that the Allies have obtained large quantities of war material from Spanish workshops, and the. Spanish Government has conscientiously endeavoured to defeat the enemy's efforts to secure advantages by infringing Spain's neutrality. Speaking in the House, of Commons last December, Lord Robert Cecil bore testimony to the correctness of the attitude of the Spanish Government and to the rigid neutrality it had observed during the war. We need not be too harsh in our judgment of those Spaniards who. still retain some remnant of their former faith in Germany. Disillusionment will come sooner or later. Recent events have brought them into closer contact with Germany's wild-beast methods of warfare. Their eyes are being opened. They will understand what German "fright-fulness"- means when they sec' it practised on their own countrvmen. The pro-German Press will find it difficult'to reconcih Gormany's professions of-friend-ship with the murder of Spanish citizens and the sinking of Spanish ships. ' -