BELLIGERENT RIGHTS
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Sta,—In your " Notes of the Week " you seem to imply that belligerent rights will not be granted because this " would allow General Franco to establish his blockade of the east coast." No doubt this is one reason (and there are others). But is any ,reason valid ? It seems to be established,that such rights are in accordance with international law, in the. last six parallel cases I believe it has invariably been granted. The , closest analogy is -the case of the American Civil War. In that case there was no doubt whatever as to the legal status of the U.S. Government, but we guaranteed the South belligerent rights almost at the outbreak of the rebellion (May i3th, z86z, to be precise). In regard to this PrOtessor Randall, of Illinois University, has recently written : That, the Queen's prpclarnation, a proper one under international law, which was imitated in other countries, didinvolye a recognition.. of Confederate belligerency, however, was a fact that could not be gainsaid : to the eyes of Europe the Government of the South, though not yet a member of the' family of nations,' was a responsible government conducting war. As such it was deemed entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a belligerent in international law." (The Civil War and Reconstruction, p. 465.) Now, Sir, if this be, correct, and if it also be correct that by withholding these rights from General Franco we are handicapping his cause, surely we are ipso facto adopting an un-neutral attitude ? This conclusion seems incontestable on logical grounds, and I should welcome your views on it. It is no answer to say : " If we had granted these rights such, and such would haye happened_" ; which is, I apprehend, the form of excuse the Government would make. On the. principle of " Tell the truth and shame the Devil," ought we not to say : " Do what is right, and shame the efforts of the Devil." Or, if you like, " Do what is right and d—n the consequences " ?—Yours faithfully, A. H. BURNE 525 Bishop's Mansions, S.W. 6. (Lieut.-Colonel).
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