WAR IN SPAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1938, Page 5

WAR IN SPAIN

NO HOPE OF AN EARLY SETTLEMENT BOTH SIDES REJECT MEDIATION. BUT REPUBLIC PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, October 18. The special correspondent of “The Times” at Hendaye says hopes that the Spanish war appeared to be declining have again vanished, as Burgos and Barcelona are again rejecting mediation. The belief had recently grown that both sides had become more accessible to counsels of moderation, but optimism has once more been killed. On the National side hundreds joined with General Franco in condemning mediation as traitorous. Equally intransigent was Senor Negrin’s weekend broadcast in which he said the Republic would not accept outside mediation or dictated terms, although willing at any time to negotiate peace with the adversary.

That is the essential difference between the Burgos and Barcelona attitudes to peace. To Burgos peace can come only through the annihilation of the adversary. To Barcelona peace is reachable through conciliation and collaboration for the reconstruction of Spain. The only prospect is that war must continue until either the military stalemate is broken or the morale of one of the adversaries fails.