The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1940. SPAIN COUNTS THE CHANCES.

Evening Star, Issue 23686, 20 September 1940, Page 6

The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1940. SPAIN COUNTS THE CHANCES.

Sexor Suner, Minister of the Interior, who is reputed to be the real power in Spain, , has been visiting Berlin at the head of a mission of Spanish military, political, and economic experts. The political discussions, at least, are not likely to have lasted long, because the day after he was reported to have arrived, and held talks with Hitler and von Ribbentrop, von Ribbentrop was announced to be paying a brief visit to Italy. The Germans, however, made the most of their Spanish visitor while he was with them. Germany is not yet so sure of the security of her box seat in Europe that she disdains to flatter Spain, or can ignore the addition that might be made to her strength by the weakest new ally. Senor Suner, for his part, knows that his country is quite as much at the mercy of the Nazi Power, with France prone beneath its heel, as ever was Belgium or Holland, and his words in an interview have been chosen to soothe and propitiate the dangerous flatterer. Spain was neutral when the war began. A few weeks ago a fiery Fascist newspaper in Spain declared that she was no longer neutral, but non-belligerent, inferring a relationship to the Axis Powers not different from that of America to the Allies. Now Senor Suner affirms that “ Spain is only momentarily non-belligerent j General Franco personally will decide when to abandon aloofness.” Berlin can interpret that as a 'vague promise to her bullies and a threat to the Allies, but the main effect of the pronouncement is to gain time. The Spanish Minister, it is said, is going on to Rome to talk to the Italians. In that way more time will be gained. Spain fared well in the last war by remaining neutral to the end. The two obstacles to that course at the present time are German pressure and her desire for spoils. Spanish pride would no doubt be gratified if she could get back Gibraltar, though it is not certain that any other advantage would be gained. With Gibraltar, if the Axis Powers should win and her stronger and quite unscrupulous partner were kind to her, might go little bits of French Morocco and Algeria—though it is not so long since Germany had ambitions in those regions herself, which at any time might be revived. Spain, Italy, and Japan are all totalitarian Powers. It might be surmised that both Japan and Spain, under theif present rulers, would be much more inclined to throw in their lot completely with totalitarian Germany, and Italy show more zeal for her commitments, if they were more convinced of Germany’s prospects in the struggle. Three months ago, with the collapse of France following those of smaller States, they seemed magnificent, but the outlook is substantially different to-day. With Britain giving as good as she gets in bombardments, that great plan of invasion, which was to decide all at a blow, still postponed and appearing less hopeful the longer it is deferred, with Britain’s strength—recruited from all the seas—still growing. while that of Germany can only decline, those who might long to “ rush to the aid of the victors” if they could see them in the freebooter Powers have reason to pause.

Spain may have more to gain yet by friendship with England than by surrendering to any Berlin blandishments. According to American papers, just before the collapse of France Sir Samuel Hoare indicated to Franco that Great Britain was willing to make a deal over Gibraltar. The terms of the deal were supposed to be that after the war Britain would give the flock back to Spain, lease it until international disarmament could be effected; meanwhile Britain would finance Spanish reconstruction in return for continued neutrality. With a national debt of Bomo 400,000,000 sterling staring him in the face, the Spanish Dictator was naturally interested. He may be interested again. Franco’s decisions in nonmilitary matters, it is said, are mostapt to be those of Suncr, who is his brother-in-law, was educated in Italy, and controls most things in Spain. But, simultaneously with the discussions with the Nazis, it is reported that England and Spain have reached an agreement under which Spain will limit her oil imports to a quantity sufficient for domestic consumption, leaving no surplus for Germany. Spain may not yet be under the Axis’s control. Half her population must be supposed to be disaffected towards the present regime. Spaniards are said to describe the conditions of misery and shortage in which most of them Jive in a pathetic phrase: “It is hell now, but it is heaven compared to the war.” They will be bold rulers who in those circumstances will venture to plunge them into another conflict.