The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1939 RECOGNITION OF FRANCO

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20744, 2 March 1939, Page 6

The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1939 RECOGNITION OF FRANCO

Whether bloodshed in Spain is prolonged or not, General Franco’s new Government is how recognised as the supreme authority in Spain by the Powers most intimately concerned, and one of the most vital phases of the situation created by the civil war has been entered. It remains for the Spanish Government to establish its new diplomatic contacts and to decide whether as an independent authority it will maintain friendly relations with its neighbours or whether in league with the other dictatorial Powers it will join in the drive for expansion of the fascist influence by means of force. It can only be hoped that the debt to Germany and Italy is not so heavy that it will compel the forfeiture of independence. The attack by the Opposition in Britain on the Government for its recognition of the new regime in Spain is ill-conceived and is apparently due to political sympathy rather than to appreciation of the facts. For two reasons it is bound to fail. In the first place the Spanish National Government is in control, and secondly, the British Government would be failing in its duty if it did not keep in the closest possible contact with the Spanish leader in view of the allimportant negotiations now in train and to follow in the immediate future. Isolation from General Franco’s Government in those critical days would be a fatal mistake. Of course, had the Republicans won the civil war the British Government would have maintained similar contact just as vigorously. Everyone will admit that from the democratic point of view there is a large measure of injustice in the whole situation, because the Nationalist victory was made possible by the intervention of Italian Fascists and German Nazis. But the victory is there and must be accepted as a matter of plain fact. It must be remembered, too, that Britain and France have been compelled by forces for which they are not responsible to fight a great battle of tactics to save democracy, of which the British Opposition itself forms a part, from the onward march of an unwanted ideology. It may be contended that that battle of tactics has so far been a sustained retreat, but it is still being fought by men who have the confidence of a great majority in Britain, and the final blow has not yet been struck by any means.

Interest has been roused by the suggestion that General Franco will invite Don Juan, third son of ex-King Alfonso, to occupy the throne of Spain. This may be intended as a move to unite the notoriously divided factions of the Spanish nation. The return of the monarchy may possibly have a unifying influence, but it may be taken for granted that the real power in Spain will continue, perhaps until the next revolution, to be General Franco or his successor. That is the way of the dictatorships. Italy has a king, but Mussolini is thp ruler. In the meantime it is most important for the peace of the world that Spain should be independent and neutral, and to that end Britain and France must bend their diplomatic energy, which is possible only with full diplomatic relations with the Government which for the time being at least is in control of the destinies of Spain.