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- 20 -3/4612the impression that he does not know really where their base was).30.7.42.REPORT 371A young Basque 24 or 25 years old. By profession a metal-worker. Up to the beginning of the war he was working with an uncle in Zaragoza. Es remained in the battle sone throughout the whole war and was mobilised in Franco's army, Is a Basque nationalist, like almost all tis family. Although a workman by profession he always worked with his relatins, almost always as foreman, or at least as manager. He has no political point of view nor are his class feelings very developed. He has never belonged to any syndicate. After the war was over he worked in Bilbao in a wire factory where there were about a thousand workmen. He final'y left work in order to devote himself to the Black Market because, acording to him, it was impossible to live on what ho was paidi at the factory. He lived in Nationalist circles, they were the only ones with which he was conected. For this reason his report is rather incomplete, and in some cases lacks objectivity. He is rather reserved.ATTITUDE OF THE SPANIARDS TOWARDS THE ANTI-HITLER WAR, - In the graphic words of the informant, 80% of Spaniards are partisans of England. The workers, peasants, petit-bourgeois, capitalists, and some of the clergy, (later he told us the majority of the Basque cures) are on the side & England, although in a passive way, and against Germany and the Falange.The general opinion which is expressed in conversations between groups of friends, and lately also in the street, is that the defeat of Germany is in evitable, due, according to our informant, to the fact that the Allies have more economic resources and more primary materials. It is thought that the United States will be a very important factor in therelisation of victory. Also the defeats suffered by Germany on the Eastern front contribute to stressing this opinion.In Spain everyone is tired of the war, and no one wishes Spain to take part in it. There people are in a real panic on this score. Our informant thinks that if Franco should decide to fight, in viewd the terrorist nature of the Regime, the people would have to obey. Later in another conversation he said that there were people who, in that case, would hide in the mountains.The defeats suffered by Germany on the Rastern front were well known there and contributed to increase the people's confidence. He says that they said there that, in spite of their resistance, it was obvious that the Rassi ans ware not sufficiently prepared to face a power like Germany.The entry of the United States into the war was received with toy by the people who interpreted it as an event destined to shorten the war, of which they are all very tired over there.The Ratification of the Anglo-Russian Pact and the American-Russian agreemant is known there, although the range and content of the pact and the agreement were not known. He says that the Falangist press; only said that these nations had promised not to make a separate peace.He does not know the agreement about the second front, although this subject is very often spoken of, with the idea that it would be the final blow to Germany. Over there they think that the opening of the Second Front will result in the rising of the French people, perhaps the Spanish people too. With the idea in mind the people often discuss possible landing places. It is thought that this-will-take-place-in-France, although some say it might also happen in Spaina The opening of the second front would be received with joy by all..The attitude of the people to the Division Asul is frankly hostile.It has no sympathy from the people, even from the very moment the recruiting was begun. He says that in the beginning a few volunteers gave their names, mainly Falangists who w. shed to earn merit in order to improve their position in Spain. Others went because their position in Spain was desperate and they thought it might improve if they left it. Some, who want in the army, found themselves in the position of not being able to refuse, because if they had they would have got into trouble. But they all went in the belief that they would see the war fron a distance, and that they were really being sent as a symbolic deputation for the Moscow parade. He says the press made propaganda, asserting that the Spanish soldier could fight in all climates, as they had shown at Teruel. H