THE SITUATION IN SPAIN [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR]
StR,—Now that the Western Democracies have finally reduced themselves to a position where the narrowest measures of self-defence are inevitable, is it not time that they seriously considered the Spanish situation and its bearing, not only on their strategic position, but on the preservation of any of the institutions of democracy, tolerance and liberty of thought which contributed more than anything to the preponderant influence of France and Britain in the last century ? Assuming a victory favourable to Fascism in Spain, the result will be a France reduced to impotence, with potential enemies on three frontiers and across her links with her Empire, and the result within France will undoubtedly be a reversion to a dictatorship of the Left or the Right. And Britain, with the Mediterranean a Fascist lake, Nazi-ism demanding colonies and dictating what men she will tolerate in the English Cabinet, will inevitably follow suit. To those who might welcome this, may I simply point out that totalitarianism is intrinsically unstable ? The nations of Europe cannot remain perennially on a war footing (which is what Fascism and its equivalents mean). without disastrous results to themselves and ultimate devastating collapse and revolution. The more completely Europe succumbs to Fascism the more disastrous will be this ultimate collapse.
Reverting to Spain may I outline a solution to the present conflict which I have lately heard proposed, and which, if it could conceivably be achieved, would undoubtedly be satis- factory from the point of view of the Spanish people as a whole and the western democracies as well ?
A united Spain favourable to France and England would establish in the west of Europe a defensive bloc of great strategic strength.
The union of Spain, it is suggested, might be achieved by a constitutional monarchy, in which the Church was allowed to retain such lands as were necessary for living and mainten- ance, and modelled, probably, on that of France., The agrarian question, which is probably the most outstanding single problem in Spain, would have to be thoroughly dealt with.
All large estates which could be proved to have been uneconomically managed would have to be broken up for development on peasant-farmer or co-operative lines. The Basque country, Galicia and Catalonia would probably have to have a modified form of internal autonomy. Probably in the early days a " strong man " would be necessary t,, simplify and accelerate the reorganisation of the countr) This man would have to come from the moderate Left if he was to have anything like permanent success. Because. first, the people on the Government side in Spain have become much more politically aware than those behind General Franco, who have been administered from above, whilst they themselves are very conscious of a general co-operative and strictly demo- cratic effort. Moreover, through General Franco's unwise bombing campaign, these people have more justification for a feeling of resentment, and are the more determined never to tolerate a dictator of the Right ; especially, of course, if he is in sympathy with their arch-enemies, Italian and German Fascism. They would, I think, be willing to make concessions in the direction of constitutional monarchy, a maintenance of the status quo in regard to private property except in such extravagant cases as that of the great landowners. A large proportion would welcome the re-establishment of the Catholic Church on a similar footing to that it holds in France, but they will never tolerate a situation which will make them feel they have betrayed their numerous dead. The situation on the Franco-ist side is somewhat different, for a very much smaller proportion of the population have actually taken part in the war or come in direct contact with its more unpleasant realities, and a very large proportion of Franco's fighting has been carried out by Moorish, Italian and professional troops.
I feel these people, if they seriously desire peace, should be "willing to subscribe to a virtual but temporary dictator of the moderate Left, curbed by a free Press and a democratically elected tortes, if they were assured that property would be treated with respect and that a constitutional monarchy would provide a stabilising factor and a check to any tendencies to autocratic excess. Moreover, I think the Pope would be willing to give his blessing to a Church, shorn indeed of all its commercial property and much of its territorial wealth, but, for this very reason more firmly established and less suspect in the eyes of ,the ordinary Spaniard. The Catholic Church is learning to its cost, and not only in Germany, that an alliance with Fascism is scarcely fruitful.—Yours truly, CHRISTOPHER MASON.
67 Haverstock Hill, London, N.W.3.
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