12 FEBRUARY 1937, Page 18

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Sta,—There seems to be

a wide and well-intentioned con- spiracy to believe that Spain, in your own words, " is not at present seriously accentuating the international tension." May I suggest that this is a delusion ? Unless we have definitely abandoned the hope that Eastern Europe would pull its weight in organised, resistance to aggression in the West, Spain at the present day localises an obviously growing

tension. •

Whatever the commercial advantages of " confidence'.' in Prague—whatever the diplomatic advantages, too, for that matter—it is surely clear that Herr Hitler's immediate inten- tions as regards Czechoslovakia depend in the first place upon the outcome of " non-intervention " in. Spain. There was a cartoon in Izvestia three weeks ago which put matters in a dear light, I think. It represented Herr Hitler, with his two principal henchmen and the three heads of the Armed Services by his side, pointing with his finger at a map of Czechoslovakia and saying : " Well,. all that remains now is to choose representatives for the forthcoming Committee for Non-Intervention in Czechoslovakia."

If Herr Hitler truly has no more surprises in pickle, then— given an unequivocal British stand foemaking non-intervention in Spain effective—there should be no real Obstacle to inter- national agreement upon the plan at present under discussion. But is there any sign that we are ready to try other methods than those of intellectual persuasion in order to put an end to the cruel and damnable farce of discussing agreement— or that Herr Hitler in these circumstances is prepared to call off the Nazi-Fascist adventure in Spain ? And can we afford to reject—let me speak - plainly—the co-operation we may

require from Russia ?:—Yours, &c., R. D. CRARQUES. iI Upper Park Road, London, N .W . 3.