Food for Spain
An agreement has been signed in Madrid, said Mr. Butler in a written Parliamentary answer,. providing for a British advance of £2,500,000 to Spain, to be spent in such manner as the two Governments may decide. This new agreement is in pursuance of the policy adopted in March, 194o, under the Anglo-Spanish Trade and Payments Treaty. Spain is and has been m dire need of food for her population and raw materials for her industry. Since the occupation of much of France by Germany there was the obvious danger that food and materials sent to Spain might find their way to the enemy. The neces. sities of the blockade as well as the scarcity of available shipping, therefore, made it impossible to allow unlimited supplies to go to Spain, or indeed any supplies but those which would be used in the country. But the British Government has been doing all that is possible to enable necessary foods to reach Spain, and intends to continue to do so, providing credits as well as shipping facilities. This is wise policy, General Franco has been fortified in his decision to resist the blandishments of Hitler by his knowledge that Germany could or would do nothing to prevent the Spanish people from starving, but that Britain is both able and willing to do so as long as Spain is genuinely neutral.
Previous page
