SURRENDER OF MINORCA

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20729, 13 February 1939, Page 6

SURRENDER OF MINORCA

Anger has been roused in Germany and Italy by Britain’s intervention to save bloodshed in the island of Minorca. Conveyed in a British battleship, General Franco’s representatives arranged for the surrender of the Republican occupiers of the island, and the warship brought back 450 refugees who might otherwise have had to face a firing squad. No doubt General Franco also has incurred the secret wrath of Signor Mussolini and Herr Hitler, who had fondly hoped that they had completely excluded British diplomatic influence from Spanish affairs. Apparently the two dictators underestimated Britain’s diplomatic ingenuity or overestimated General Franco’s blind loyalty to them. But the future control of Minorca and the other Spanish islands in the western Mediterranean is of great importance to Britain, which is missing no opportunity to ensure that the islands shall remain purely Spanish, whether Republican or Fascist. Occupation by either Germany or Italy is undesirable to Britain. Hence, at the request of the Nationalists, Britain placed a warship at their disposal to facilitate the peace discussions, and the island has surrendered and been occupied by General Franco’s forces. The dictators will probably consider this a blow at their prestige. Whether it will affect their declared intention of withdrawing entirely from Spanish territory when General Franco’s victory is complete remains to be seen. At least the Nationalists can expect to have the whip applied to them for daring to treat with Britain without first consulting Germany and Italy. But the facts do indicate that the Spanish Nationalists have some respect for Britain’s wishes, and it will be interesting to watch the development of relations when the Nationalist Government gains control of all Spain.