"HANDS OFF" IN SPAIN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 32, 22 February 1937, Page 6

"HANDS OFF" IN SPAIN

At a very long last it irotild seem as if the European Powers more particularly concerned had agreed upon a fairly effective course of action to prevent further aid in either men or equipment reaching either of the contending factions in Spain. It is now just about seven months since active hostilities began. It was only a month later that at AngloPreneh instance an international eommittee was set up with the object of preeluding outside intervention likely not only to protraet the bitter fratricidal struggle but also to dreate conditions under which it might well develop into an international war. On that eommittee Germany, Italy and Russia were all represeiited, but on oue pretext or another have liitherto managed to delay any practieal preventive measureS being put into operation. In the meantime each lias almost barefacedly been actively engaged in providing assistance to oue side or the other— Germany and Italy to ihe Pascist insurgents and Russia to the Soeialist Government, In the former ease the aid took the form oi bbth men and material, tens of thousands oi organised and well trained troops being landed and num" berless destructiVe and death- dealing aeroplanes fldwn over# besides plentiful supplies of mUnitions. Russia does not seem to have sent very many men to the aid of their fellow Socialists, at any raie in the mass manner adopted by Germany and Italy, She has# however# done a very great deal In the way of sending war material, Beyond this there has, of eourse, been a big influx of genuine "volunteers'* from many countries, espeeially on the side of the Government. In faet, it may be said that Madrid Woulld long since have f allen to General Franco 's flssaxllts had . it not been for the International Brigade that hag taken so forward a part in its defence. In the ranks of this brigade, so we are told by one oi its earliest British members, were to be found French, Germans, Italians, Belgians, Poles, Hungarians, British# Yugo-Slavs, Bulgdrians, Swiss, Rumanians, Americans and Dattes— all# ,aS he puts it, constituting 4in the truest sense a brigade of the Peoples's Front of Europe." Despite its mixed character this column, under experienced and competent leadership, quickly resolved itself into the spearhead of the Government forces. It is not altogether clear what motives have actuate'd Germany and Italy to now fall in with the Anglo-French propOSals. It may, however, be taken tbat Great Britain's move tOwards rearmainent~has had at least some influence. Mussolini, as we khoW, was quick to realise what this meant and gave a quite ready responge to Britain's representations with regard to ffiaintainmg the ''statllS qtios' in the Mediterranean. Hitler, on the other hatid, was not So speedily impressed, but it would appear as if, under presSure, be has recognised the possibility of findiiig himself taking up an isolated stand. In • any event, possibly at Mussolini's instance, he has at length decided to eome into line. Prohably both have come to the conelusion that it may be just as well, for the present at any rate, to keep in with a Great Britain rearmed, or at least rapidly rearming. However this mfty be, they have issued decrees definitely prdhibiting their eititens from joining ttp with either side and stdppitig the export of arms or munitidns to Spain. They have also decided to contribute to the naval patrol of the Spanish coast whose duty it will be to see that the agreement thus reached will be carried out. How far they are to be trnsted to perform this duty in good faith may be questionable, and it may be noted that the eastern coast allotted jointly to the German and Italian navies is still pretty well in the hands of the Spanish Government. On the other hand, close by British, French and Russian ships will patrol the southern coast, on which have hitherto been landed most of the foreign reinforcements sent to General Francos How far the precautions thus taken will prove effective remains to be seen, as also does the question as to whether friction may not ^occur in such strangely assorted co-operation.