[To the Editar of Tam SPECTAiiilL] - SIR,—May I. be
allowed to reply to your leading article, "The Spanish Shambles " of August 21st ? 'YOu say that - the Azafia.Government has never ceased to be the constitutional • government of the country, and therefore their legal footing is
incontestable. . . • . • .
As far as I am able to gather, this may be trua. in'theOry, but practically it would appear that the wild lift4ingeiS have taken control, the Communists, Anarchists and Syndical- .and that whatever'.niodeMte eleMent theie may have been before the outbreak, have been biushed aside, otherviise how is if possible that the frightftil atrocities -enacted by the supporters of-the so-called gavernment are behig-etarunitted-?• You mention the savage brutality of the Moorish troops at' Ba.dajoz brought across from Africa by General Franco. I have not a doubt that the fighting troops On both sides we; equally guilty of savage conduct in the field, but it seems to me yoti are taking a one-sided view when 'yaii•enter on the: subject of savage conduct,_ and altogether omit the fact that themost horrible heitia and revolting Crimes against not only -the . Christian Church and those who serve' her,' ' both priests and nuns, but indiscriminately against the inakt•deibitit class of citizens has been committed by followers of your so-called government.
The kindest way of. letting the present government down lightly and so partly exonerating them of the crimes com- mitted in their name; is to- recognise the fact that they are powerless in the hands of their Communist followers.—I am, Sir, yours. obediently, " Finlarig' Birchington, Kent. S. NORTON TAYLOR.
[Thai the Government at Madrid has not ceased to be the coastitutionally-Clected, and therefore the constitutional, Government is incontestable. Inter arena silent leges. The atrocities committed by both sides in a civil war initiated by General Franco do not alter that fact.—En. The Spectator.]
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