Relations with Spain.

Taihape Daily Times, 10 March 1919, Page 6

Relations with Spain.

NEUTRALITY DURING WAR

PLEA FOR RECOGNITION

It ..is perhaps difficult for Englishmen to understand Spain’s attitude iu the war wrote the special corrcsponent of a London paper, from Madrid, under date Dec. 5. They are apt to forget that Spain had practically declared her neutrality long before the outbreak of war. It vras in fact in 1889 that a Spanish stsatesman Senpr Maura said: “There is no nation less liable than Spain to ho involved in the more .or less imminent struggles which darken the face of Europe, nor is it possible taat she- should adopt any other attitude than one of absolute. scrupulous, and unswerving neutrality.’ The disastrous war in which Spain was humiliated nine years later naturally did not make her keener for i“ tcrvoution. Yet they

are mistaken w.. 0 suppose Spain’s neutrality a sign of dcaduess, decadence, or indifference.

Spain in some respects is not a na- » tion, but merely 20.000,000 of individuals, and it is safe to say that in no other country has discussion between individuals concerning the war boon more violent and continuous. And when we come to consider the opinions of individuals wo find that a goodly proportion of prominent Spaniards have boon and are fervent pro-Ally. Of the pro Germans many have been less friends of * Germany than enemies of anti-Clcriealism or Bolshevism. But the King himself has never disguised his pro-Aliy opinions which have indeed been not merely platonic; nor would it be easy to exaggerate the goodwill and services of such men as the Duke of Alba while a great number of widely read authors have been pcrsisfenly anti-Ger-man. Thus we find Blasco Ibanez in one of his novels saying that “those Germans whatever they may do will always be a vulgar set’’ and prophetically speaking of the “false facility of adaption peculiar to their race. ”

GERMAN .ACTIVITIES Nor must it be supposed that Spain in ber neutrality has been a gainer. She has had sufferings and losses like other neutrals and we must sympathise still with her. In this respect mans still with her. In this respect she is already paying the penalty of her neutrality; for although the Germans have to some extent disappearfrom the surface they are busy enough beneath it and it is very easy for a clever German agent to poison and mislead the ignorant and aprfcrently independent Spaniard. The Spaniards are not worshippers of material success but they are undoubtedly eager to stand well with with the Airies who will do well to realise that beneath Spanish pride and assurance is a very real humility and even distrust. Force of circumstances causes

Spanish foreign policy now as before the war to be based on close friendship with England and *. The new Government over by the advocate of intervention on the side of the Allies the Count of Rom-

anoncs is of course strongly pxo*Ally. But even so consistent a supporter as Scnor Maura said as early a September, 1916, that “Spain may in definite and practical way show her preferences and these preferences arc determined by her geographical situation, which imposes an alliance With Franco and England. TREATMENT AS AX EQUAL These nations, however, he proceeded, must change the methods adopted during the last two and a half centuries towards Spain, and treat her as an equal. The attitude towards Spain in the past has been based, not on ill-will, but cn ignor

ancc-. People; see;:; to have imagined because Spain had lest her Colonial Empire she was a listless, decadent nation. Spain, however, has never been decadent. At the same time it is not easy for foreign Governments to take a nation seriously which indulges in a change of Ministry every six weeks or so, and whose politicians seem to prefer political chatter and intrigue in the capital to the effort icf settling themselves serious!v to carry out a national policy. It is a proof of Spains energy and "vitality that she progresses nevertheless. It is for Great Britain to realise and encourage this progress and to recognise the excellence of many Spanish products. The English and Spanish are both nations of such strongly pronounced character and marked individuality that they have often been at loggerficads. Truly' I shall never brook a Spaniard.’ 7 says c character in Ben Jonson’s “Alchemist.” Never since ’BB could I abide them, an* that was gone three years afore I was born, tn truth. ” And in 1A54. when Philip 17. was married to the Queen of England, a Spaniard i n England wrote:— These -English hate ns like the (•*•- vil, and treat us accordingly/’

BULLETS IN OVERCOAT.

The correspondent of the Sydney “Sun’ 5 says the shot which-wounded M. Clcmenceau passed through the cushions of his car. Two others also -t penetrated the car Vi thou wounding the Premier, -and two bullets remained in his overcoat. I saw Cottin at the prefecture. A groat mop of dirty-coloured hair hung over his face, which was badly battered, and blood still streamed, from his unrepentant eyes. He said ho had studied Clemoneoau’,s, methods, and had assiduously practised revolver shooting. Cottin said that dur-. ino- the morning of the crime, ho practised shooting into a _miirror. Ho told the police (hat all- peoples, were brothers, but Clemoneoau was a tyrant. *aml lie hoped he had killed him. The Paris correspondent of “The Times’ statesstates that through his attempted ispassincjtiou he Aj; cured the rest which ho wanted from •he work of the conference. He pours sarcasm on his assailant’s bad shooting. .