FRANCE AND THE SPANISH FRONTIER
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—It was not without some surprise that the French read certain statements, which, according to the British Press, Mr. Chamberlain made in the House of Commons regarding the closing of the French frontier on the Pyrenees. In the opinion of Frenchmen, it was only in order not to displease the British Government that the Daladier-Bonnet Cabinet consented to do this. They only made this concession in order to keep in step with London, which was especially desirable on the eve of the British Sovereigns' visit to Paris —an event hailed with enthusiasm by the French Democracy.
Now, according to The Times of July 7th, 1938, Mr. Chamberlain stated that His Majesty's Government " had never suggested that the French Government should, in present citcumstances, take unilateral action in closing their frontier." This statement not only raised emotion in France, but real stupefaction. It is a universally known fact that the French Government contemplates with the greatest anxiety the possibility of the Fascist States getting hold of Spain. Nothing can be more natural, as France would thus be surrounded and the Maginot Line would become useless.
Now, if the statements attributed by The Times and Most British papers to Mr. Chamberlain are correct, we have to admit that the Dafadier Cabinet, suddenly changing its policy, has closed the Pyrenees frontier without being asked to do so by the British Government. Of course, no Frenchman would presume to question Mr. Chamberlain's good faith. But we may wonder' whether the British Premier did not lose sight of some of the steps—in our opinion, of paramount importance —taken by British Diplomacy.
In well-informed Parisian circles it is believed that the French Foreign Office received at the beginning of June a British note expressing in a courteous manner, but not without severity; the opinion that the failure to dose the Pyrenees frontier was prolonging the Spanish war, and that the Frenea Go'Vernment 'ought to be careful not to lose the sympathies of British opinion. In the same circles it is believed that the eminent diplomat who is the representative of Great Britain in Paris drew the attention of the French Government to the alleged passing of war materials across the Pyrenees.
If all this should be untrue—if the British Government did not—and does not—ask for the closing of the Franco-Spanish frontier, it would be of the utmost importance that it should be known. For no one in Paris doubts that, if the London Cabinet did not object, the French Government would be glad to relinquish the closing of a frontier, to which they consented reluctantly, and only for the sake of the Anglo- French friendship.
May I also draw the attention of the British public to a fact which seems to be worthy of notice ? We in France have the impression that too many of our British friends judge French opinion from the statements of the right-wing Press, which is both wealthy and noisy, but does not in the least reflect the opinions of the French public.
Thus Gringoire is a Parisian weekly paper, with a con- siderable circulation, which might be taken seriously, since one of its contributors is M. Tardieu, a former Prime Minister. Yet some time ago it published an article according to which England ought to be reduced to slavery. This article, however, inspired nothing but contemptuous disgust throughout France. Again, the right-wing Press has published the statements of another ex-Prime Minister, M. Flandin, in support of Herr Hitler's policy. Because of M. Flandin's title, it might be thought that he represents an important section of French opinion, which is certainly not the case, for even within his own party he is rigorously opposed by such well-known Conservatives as M. Mandel and M. Reynaud.
It would be a good thing if it were known in England that Frenchmen, whatever their political opinions may be, consider that the establishment of a Franco-Mussolini-Hitler rule in the Spanish Peninsula would be a mortal danger to France, and to peace. An Italian paper, II Resto del Carlino, recently said that our country, in case of war, would be obliged to look to the security of the frontier, not only of the Rhine, but also of the Alps and the Pyrenees. That is why the mere suggestion of a Fascist domination over Spain alarms every peace-loving inhabitant of this country ; such a suggestion is accepted only by a handful of Fascist or pro-Fascist agitators who are the spokesmen of Hitler and Mussolini in Paris. But such people, fortunately, represent no real force. If a British policy were to be based upon their opinions, it would be based upon nothingness.
It is not fitting, of course, for Frenchmen to interfere, even afar-off, in England's home affairs. But the people of France are entitled to address the British people as friends, and tell them that they feel threatened in their vital interests by the German and Italian intervention in Spain—and that a threat to France is a threat to Britain.—Yours faithfully,
ALBERT BAYET.
Professeur a l'Ecole des Hautes Etudes, Paris-
Previous page
