The Axis Pressure and Spain Seilor Serrano 8uner, the Spanish
Minister of the Interior, after conversations with Hitler, Ribbentrop and Count Ciano no in Berlin, has visited Rome and explored the situation further with Count Ciano and Signor Mussolini himself. The Axis leaders have been bringing all the pressure they can on Spain to Induce her to enter the war, either at once or as soon as a favourable opportunity may present itself; and there is little doubt that they have been endeavouring to strengthen the hands of the Spanish war party by generous offers of a Gibraltar not Yet conquered and of parts of Morocco which conquered France must give up if Germany gives the order. General Franco him- self—apart from the fact that he has probably little desire to put himself wholly at the disposal of Germany and Italy—knows that his country is already war-weary and in no stomach for more fighting, and that participation in the war, even if it did not involve the use of Spanish soldiers, would deprive his hungry nation of the food-stuffs which the British now pass through the blockade. There is no food to be had from the Axis countries. General Franco's position is not an easy one. Pressed on by extremists of the Falangist party, coerced by Germany, he may be unable to resist Axis demands; but it is almost certainly his desire to keep his people out of the war and consolidate his organisation at home.
