BRITISH OFFICIALS IN SPAIN
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Sia,—The fight for Bilbao by a people in arms against foreign airplanes and mechanised armies has cost the Basques thousands of their bravest and best. The fall of Bilbao will cost them thousands more. This second butchers' bill would be reduced by fear of the effect on British public opinion but for the removal of the restraining presence of a British Consular representative and the restraining possibility of a British Consular report.
Why this removal ? Because of risk ? But since when have British officials been relieved of their responsibilities when these are most required because of personal risk ? There was little or no risk for our Consuls at Madrid and Malaga, but their withdrawal greatly increased the risk to the persons and property of British subjects there. And it has been interpreted in Spain as connivance in the executions that followed the occupation of Malaga and that would follow that of Madrid or Bilbao. Meantime our Ambassador, still officially accredited to the Spanish Government, is our unofficial agent with the insurgents.
This new departure from the principles and proprieties a international relations results in devolving . the duties of diplomatic and Consular officials on such organisations as are ready to undertake them. For example, after the British Universities hospitals in Almeria had been bombed for five successive days by German planes and bombarded for half an
hour by German cruisers, happily with no casualties worse than cuts from glass, I consulted the volunteer staff of nurses and welfare workers whether to dose down. A deciding consideration with them in resolving to carry on was that in case of real trouble the British Vice-Consulate would be with- drawn and the hospitals-would than be Warned to take its place.
These Englishwomen are enduring hardship and danger with no remuneration or recognition, pay or pensions. O.B.E's and M.V.O's are not for them. All that we can do for them is to meet the running expenses of their hospitals so that they may continue to be the real representatives of the British people through their faith in Christianity and their championship of the afflicted.
Subscriptions should be addressed to : T. E. Mardling, Esq., F.C.I.S., Southern Spanish Relief Fund, to Old Jewry, E.C.2.
Director of B.U. Hospitals in Almeria and Murcia.
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