THE CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN.

Evening Star, Issue 22462, 6 October 1936, Page 13

THE CIVIL WAR IN SPAIN.

TO THB EDITOR. Sir,—Tho conflict in Spain has a much wider and deeper significance than is indicated by your leading article. It is, in very truth, a world issue, in which the dynamic forces ot developing civilisation, represented by ) the Government and people or Spain, are confronted by the world forces or social inertia and blind reaction, represented bv the landed aristocracy, the financial and industrial oligarchy, and the officers of the army and navy. All these constitute a class of socially ) privileged people who, whatever their superficial differences, are bound together by the common purpose of defending their traditional right to exploit the peasants and workers of Spain. The great significance of the struggle in Spain for the people of New Zealand and of the world lies in the fact that these antagonistic forces are active or latent in all countries. Not only is the liberty of the Spanish people endangered, but popular liberty in all countries. To ho indifferent to the issue is to be guilty of the blindest stupidity. The final and irrevocable defeat of the forces of social progress is unthinkable, because it would mean the ultimate extinction of civilisation. Therefore the responsibility to resist by word and deed the Fascist enemies of freedom rests upon every intelligent person. One good result of the prolonged struggle has been the rousing of millions of people to political consciousness and vigilance for the first time. These are being forced to realise that the “ sweet reasonableness ” of the ruling class is a myth, and that when its privileged status is really challenged it discards the masks of constitutionalism and democracy, of the ballot box and Parliament, and strives to perpetuate its rule by milked violence. The Spanish people are assailed, not only by their own tyrants, hut by the reactionary forces throughout Europe. Whence come the “ discipline and superiority _in arms,” which seem to be prevailing over the Government forces? Obviously, from Italy and Germany, where Fascism has already enslaved the people and destroyed all democratic rights, and where the present revolt was hatched and engineered. While bombing planes and all modern war equipment have been supplied lavishly to the rebels through Portugal and Morocco, it is shamefully true that the futile policy of non-in-tervention has resulted in depriving the legitimate Government of Spain of the efficient means of defence. According to the ‘ Manchester Guardian,’ not only Italy and Germany, but British nationals also, have been exporting money and war material to the enemies of Spain. You suggest that in the event of the defeat of the Madrid Government the succeeding Government will not necessarily be a Fascist one. How can it be otherwise? The_ essential characteristic of Fascism is its rejection of the democratic _ form of Government. The substitution of a military dictatorship is the only alternative to democratic rule. Such a regime can never bring peace or stability to Spain or any country. Even a benevolent despotism (if such wero possible) would stop progress by destroying the initiative of the people. However slow and painful it may be, the way forward can never be through the curtailment of freedom, and the arbitrary power of the few is always the negation of freedom for the many.—l am, etc., A. B. Powell. October 5. [Our correspondent has to get over the facts vouched for by those much nearer to the scene, that before the revolt began there were few Fascists in Spain, and most of those were in gaol; also that Spanish Socialism is independent of economics. There has been no democratic Government in Spam, as we know it, under Right or Left Governments—little more than in Russia. A correspondent of the Manchester Guardian ’ writes from Andalusia, “ Communists all the world over, long before they are near to power, manufacture Fascists. . , . But will Communism come in [in Spam] if the Government wins? I have asked many people that question, and all have answered ‘ No.’ A Government much to the Left, of course, but nothing like Communism. Perhaps a dictatorship by Azana.”—Ed. E.S.I