Mr. Churchill and General Franco
The publication of the letters exchanged between General Franco and Mr. Churchill in 5944 completely disposes of the discreditable suggestion that Mr. Churchill had been unduly tender to the Spanish dictator. General Franco's letter, it is true, was one of amazing
assurance and incomprehension, but the reply as a statement of the British attitude could not have been bettered. The head of the Spanish Government seems to have shared the delusion which the Nazis harboured to the last—that Britain must be afraid of the mounting power of Communist Russia, and must look round for European Allies to secure her against the menace. His letter was an attempt to play upon Mr. Churchill's supposed fear of Russia, and to offer his own country, Spain, as the one country left in Europe strong enough to stand by Britain's side. Mr. Churchill pointed out that this country desired friendly relations with the " people " of Spain, but reminded the General that his Government had sent a division to fight our Russian Ally, that it had violated the Tangier treaties, and had consistently allowed German influence in Spain to hinder our war effort, and that this record could not be overlooked ; and firmly pointed out that we desired no bloc of Powers based on hostility to our Russian Allies, but, on the contrary, that our policy is based on the Anglo-Soviet Treaty and Anglo-Russian collaboration. Mr. Churchill's reply was a model of firmness and dignity.
Previous page
