General Franco Provocative
It would have been idle to suppose that the war which Germany has thrust upon Russia would not profoundly affect the attitude of Spain. The Franco regime came into being by conqUering Republican forces supported by Russia, and has never ceased to regard Russia as its principal enemy in Europe. Indeed, it was Hitler's treaty with the Soviet Union which made it easier for General Franco to restrain his pro- German friends and pursue a policy of neutrality, pressing the sound economic argument that Spain needed the supplies passed by Britain through the blockade. By making war on Russia Hitler has strengthened the party position of the extreme Falangists, and in these circumstances it is not surprising that in addressing the National Council of the Falange on the fifth anniversary of the rising against the Republican Govern- ment General Franco should not only denounce "the nightmare of Russian Communism," but include in his condemnation those who are now co-operating with Russia. Great Britain and the United States both fall under the scourge of his rhetoric, and both were unjustly charged with holding up Spain's supplies. The utterance is disquieting. Allowance should, no doubt, be made for the occasion on which die General spoke-- a party meeting inflamed by the extension of the war to Russia,—but the effect of the speech in Latin America may k and may well have been meant to be, distinctly injurious t, the Allied cause.
Previous page
