30 SEPTEMBER 1938, Page 2

General Franco's latest assault on the Republican lines on the

Ebro, described as his " fifth counter-attack in sixty days," has ended in failure. The Government's confidence in its powers of resistance has fully justified its recent decision to dispense with what is left of the International Brigade. General Franco's cause has suffered by the rapid and acute development of the European crisis ; the difficulties with which it presents Signor Mussolini prevent reneN:,,i Italian intervention on the scale which is necessary if stal,- mate is to be turned into victory. General Franco's oy..1 views on the crisis are expressed in a Pecksniffian_ statemult issued at Burgos this week ; he states that in the event et war he would wish to remain neutral, and concludes v. ah the pious wish that Europe should be spared the horrors of war, into which he has plunged Spain for two years. General Franco must realise that the establishment of peace in Europe must necessarily include the establishment of peace in Spain ; and this is only possible by according to the Spanish Government its just rights. It is by now abundantly clear that the only way to secure peace in Spain is by permanently cutting off General Franco's supplies from his foreign allies.

* * * *