Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 1938. THE LOST CAUSE IN SPAIN.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 April 1938, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 1938. THE LOST CAUSE IN SPAIN.

the stage now reached in Spain, with the Republicans preparing to make a desperate last stand in the mountains covering Barcelona, there is a good deal to be said in favour of the view expressed by the British Foreign Minister (Viscount Halifax) when he discussed the position with members of the general council of the Trades Union Congress at the Foreign Office a day or two ago. Lord Halifax, we are told, pointed out the “probable futility of attempting at the last moment to bolster up a lost cause.” These words seem to sum up the existing state of affairs in Spain quite accurately. With the insurgents in possession of the headworks of Barcelona’s power supply, and nearing, if they have not already reached, that city’s principal reservoir, it certainly seems likely that the defenders of Catalonia are doomed speedily to share the defeat that has been suffered by their comrades in so many other parts of Spain.

It is one thing, however, to recognise that the position in Spain is beyond remedy and another thing altogetherto assume that British policy towards Spain is and has been all that it should be. Lord Haflifax is said to have outlined to the representatives of the Trades Union Congress “the policy which Britain will urge upon General Franco if and when his victory is complete.” Many British people in all. parts of the Empire will regret profoundly that Britain should enter into friendly relations on any terms with a military adventurer who might very well have ended his career as a defeated and discredited rebel had not Italy and Germany sent strong forces to his assistance in direct violation of international law, and, indeed, of any decent standard of international conduct.

Britain, it was reported yesterday, will refuse to implement the agreement into which she is entering with Italy until the Italian forces have evacuated Spain. Presumably any understanding with Germany will be made subject to the same condition. This is well enough as far as it goes, but the conditions in which the so-called civil war in Spain is being wound up afford at best little ground for confidence in the future. At no time, admittedly, would any considerable section of opinion in Britain or in other parts of the Empire have favoured active intervention on behalf of the Spanish Government. The conflict which now seems to have come very near to its ending in Spain, lias been in great part one between extreme factions, and the British democracy has no close sympathy with either of these factions.

No mad adventure on behalf of the Spanish Republicans has ever been contemplated by the people of British countries. But; was it right, that Britain should have continued to be a party to the farcical Non-Inter-vention Agreement long after it had been demonstrated that this agreement, observed by some nations, including Britain, and. flagrantly violated by others, was operating almost solely to the advantage of the insurgents headed by General Franco and to the detriment of what was, after all, the legally constituted Government of Spain?

The struggle that has been almost fought, out in Spain is not a civil war, but rather a European war in miniature, with Italy and Germany giving lavish and effective aid. to the insurgent forces and Russia giving much less effective aid to the Government. It might almost, be said that Britain and France, as well as Russia, latterly, have allowed themselves to be made passive parties to the Halo-German invasion of Spain. The idea of now building up friendly understanding with the nations which have been permitted thus without hindrance to make- a mock of sound principles of international conduct, and also with the rebels whom Italy and. Germany have so effectively assisted to victory in Spain, cannot be called inspiring.