SPAIN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 212, 7 August 1937, Page 8

SPAIN.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —We note a letter irom the Spanish. Relief Committee and also a report of tlio address by Mr Barnao on this subject. This civil war has revealed some curious contradictions. AVe see, for example, people protesting today against Franco’s attempt to overthrow a “constitutional Government,” when that Government seized power by a revolt against the elected Government of 1934. What was right lor the rebels.of 1934 scorns wrong for Franco to-day. We have seen persons like your correspondents denouncing the intervention of Germany and Italj, while no protest is made at the greater assistance rendered, by Russia and France against Franco. Wc hear of tanks, planes, etc., from Germany and Italy for Franco, but those who condemn this omit to equally condemn tlio huge number of guns, tanks, planes, and men imported from Russia and Franco to save Madrid from Franco in November. Your correspondents rightly condemn the bombing of open towns' by Franco’s forces, but omit to •mention that the other side lias been equally guilty. Those who condemn Franco’s blockade of Bilbao say no word of protest against the earlier blockade of Ceuta and Melilla by tlio other side. The evidence is overwhelming that the present Government is composed of Communists, Anarchists, etc., who established a reign of terror in Madrid and elsewhere. Against this Franco’s party put up resistance and civil war resulted. The war is practically Communists versus anti-Communists. and each side has been helped from abroad by those nations who support or oppose Communism. Wo do not uphold this outside avsistance, but we say with every evidence to support us that those who condemn assistance to Franco are utterly inconsistent in not equally condemning foreign assistance to the “Government” who gained office by revolt against a provious Government. If Franco’s wrong to-day, they were wrong in 1934.—We are, etc., N.Z. AVELFARE LEAGUE. August 6, 1937.