The Powers and Spain
Meanwhile the agreement between the chief European States to refrain from intervention in the civil war exists on paper, but the necessary steps to make it effective have not been taken, for lack of the adhesion of certain States whose co-operation is essential, notably Germany and Portugal. That Portugal has hitherto been an •open door by which • arms-and other,_supplies • could pour through to the rebels is established by irre- futable evidence. The Portuguese are commonly, and accurately, referred to as this country's oldest allies, but they have completely alienated British sympathies by their attitude to the Spanish conflict in the last six weeks. Their belated consent to take part in a committee of control to supervise the execution of the non-intervention agreement has at last been received, but it is accompanied by reservations on which no opinion can be expressed, since they have not yet been published. Germany, at the time of writing, has not replied at all, in spite of repeated representations by the French Government and our own. Herr Hitler's attitude in this and other matters is purely opportunist. He is at Berchtesgaden, pretty clearly waiting as long as possible to see how the Spanish situation develops, and the Foreign Office at Berlin, which is the proper and normal channel of communication with foreign governments, has no authority to say anything at all. It seems probable that at the last moment the Chancellor will come into line, for he is credited with a general desire to co-operate with Great Britain as far as possible,
