The Spanish-Portuguese Bloc
The drawing together of Spain and Portugal is of good augury at a moment which is critical for the whole Iberian peninsula. The visit of the Spanish Foreign Minister, General Jordana, to Lisbon, where he has discussed Spanish-Portuguese relationships with Dr. Salazar, has led to an accord details of which will be heard later ;
but that it goes a long way may be judged by the fact that General Jordana spoke of the creation of an " Iberian bloc," and said that it was a " new entity in the. world " capable of playing a part in international policy as an instrument of peace. There is no doubt that Hitler, for whom the African campaign has become a vital sphere of operations, has been making demands upon Spain, though whether he desires to march through the country to Gibraltar, or merely to gain air-bases on the Spanish coast, is uncertain. But though General Franco's broad sympathies are Fascist, he is bent on keeping Spain out of war, and certainly desires at all costs to keep the Germans out of his country. Portugal has been con- sistently loyal to he ancient alliance with Great Britain, but knows that a German penetration of Spain would involve her own territory scarcely less than that of her neighbour. That the two countries should draw together now can only mean that they are prepared to stand side by side in defence of their neutrality, recognising that a threat to the one is a threat to the other. Since we know where Portugal stands, the accord indicates that neither country is prepared to yield to Hitler. Just as in the case of Turkey a firm attitude of neutrality and preparedness to defend it has proved invaluable in checking Hitler's designs, so it is likely to be with Portugal and Spain. Their attitude is at least a warning to Hitler that he cannot use these neutral countries as quiescent pawns in his game.
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