The Spanish Conflict

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 8

The Spanish Conflict

SUPPORT FOR PROPOSAL TO SEND MEDICAL UNIT. In furtherance of a proposal that a medical unit should be sent from the Dominion to assist the victims of the Spanish war, a public meeting was held in the Opera House last night. There was an attendance of several hundred, and addresses by live speakers were listened to attentively. Tho Mayer (Mr. A. E. Mansford) presided.

After drawing attention to the purpose for which the meeting had been called, the Mayor said people were apt to forget the collective cost in men and money of the Great War, which had cost Great Britain alone £7,000,000. Today the nations were arming as never before, and the world would be a much better place if the money being spent were diverted to national and industrial development. {Spain was in the throes of a civil war to-day, and there was an urgent need for medical and nursing services. It was, he felt, the bounden duty of'all citizens, as Britishers and Christians, to give whatever help they could. A committee had been set up in Palmerston North, and anyone wishing to join up -would be welcomed. Mr. J. Hodgens, M.P., said that events in Spam were such as to concern any democracy. Messages sent out from that country indicated that there was a shortage of nursing sisters, ambulance units and medical men, and there : was a call for proper help and assistance. It was not for us to judge the pros and cons of the dispute; tho fact remained that there was a call to the brotherhood of man.

A multitude of causes, good, bad and indifferent, stated Dr. W. M. Smith, had been pressed on the public in recent years, with varying results, and this was one that could be successful only by concerted public support. The sooner people realised that people got killed and wounded in war, the sooner would a stop be put to war. The greatest tragedy of the present turmoil was that many women and children praying for the arrival of Franco had suffered terrible indignities at the hands of Franco 7 s Moorish butchers. Dr. Smith interestingly traced the political history of Spain since the Great War, and said that the use of Moorish troops to put down a rising in the Asturias in 1934 had been a foretaste of what whs to come. The present revolt had been started not by the Spanish people, but by a military junta mainly, backed up by Spanish industrialists and to some extent by people in London. Spain had been used as an experimenting ground by Germany and Italy, while the policy of France and Britain was not above criticism. Non-intervention had been a gigantic farce, and Spain could not be left to the powers of evil. The issue was not Fascism versus Communism, but democracy versus tyranny. There was a pressing call for effective nursing and medical aid, not only for the combatants but also for the civilians who were suffering. 44 It seems untrue to say that the disturbance m Spain is a civil war; it is a war of aggression organised by people outside Spain, 77 stated Miss Constance Rawcliffe, of Wellington. The people of Spain were lighting for democracy—not just Spanish democracy, but New Zealand democracy and tforld democracy. Under Fascism there could be no progress and the people could have no liberty. New Zealand could help suffering Spain by sending a medical unit, and strong committees were working to this end in the centres. She hoped that it would be made possible for a food ship to be sent from New Zealand.

The humanitarian side of the issue was dealt with by Rev. J. Hubbard. New Zealanders, he said, were members of the world family, and if things were not right in Spain, they were not right with us. He hoped the people of this country would help to alleviate suffering and save life, and help bring to an end a terrible struggle, impartial Aclmirus nation if FunasY Unite a collection was Deiug taken up, Rev. Father Reriiliy asked if the organisers could give a definite assurance tnat the funds which were collected for tno relief of the Spanish people wound be administered impartially to neip alleviate uistress on tue side of the rebels as well as the Government, lie stated that the population of Spain was 2i,UUO,OOU, and mat 19,000,006 were on tno side of the rebel's. Mr F. J. Lewiu, chairman of the local organisation, replied that any unit sent from hew Zealand would operate under tho banner of the lied Gross, which knew no distinction between friend and foe. Britain and Australia already had units operating in Spain, and they were treating Government forces and rebels impartially. The Spanish people had played a glorious part in the history of civilisation, stated Mr J. A. (Jolquhoun, the last speaker. All the countries of Europe ought to be able to give their peoples an environment which would give culture and happiness to the utmost, but they had so concentrated on engines of de-

struction that the people had been do nied the necessities of life as we knew them. In the Spanish conflict the non-combatants were in closer contact with the war than the combatants. He did not know which of tho warring sides was right, but he knew that it was Now Zealand’s duty to give help to the suffering. Mr F. C. Allerby moved: “That this meeting wholeheartedly supports the expression of the speakers here to-night and pledges itself to give assistance to the worthy objects of this meeting in end .avouring to alleviate the distress and suffering of the Spanish people, brought about by the brutal aggression of the Fascist forces. 77 The Mayor said he could not accept the resolution as it stood, and asked for the deletion of the words ‘ ‘brought about by the brutal aggression of the Fascist forces.’ 7 “No; you can get another chairman, 77 stated Mr Mansford whqn asked \n a point of order whether ho was not

forced to accept tho. resolution as moved. Mr Allerby deleted the words referred to by the Mayor, and, seconded by Mr V. Christiansen, the resolution was carried. Votes of thanks to the speakers and the Mayor concluded the meeting.