New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-03
SPAIN AND THE WAR.
Why Her Sympathies Are Undoubt-
edly with the Allies.


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: While Spain cannot directly interviews
in the war its sympathes are undoubtedly
with the Allies and the sacred cause Of Id
erty which they are championing. SPANS
interests are not yet directly concerned but
with unerring instinct she feels that were
German militarsm to prevail her freedom
would not be Of long duration, and that sooner
or later the overmastering influence Of the
then invincible "Kultur' would make itself
felt Recently in the Petit Parsien" VI.
Rafael Altamira for many years Director
| General Of Education in Madrid, wrote very
able and inspiring article representing the
trend Of public opinion In his country. In th9
course Of his remarks he says: bat there arc
three facts Of great Importance. First OF all,
in Spain the number of partisans Of the Allies
increases every day. To-day-and am only
speaking of cases where this feeling is openly
and stanchly expressed-this feeling for the
Allies is incomparably higher than II was in
the last months Of 1914. All the partsans OF
the Allies are made up of all parties-lib-
erals, Conservatives and particularly OF the
Younger generation known as the Intel
lectuals'
In the second place, there is a point OF
concentration around which these opinions
are gravitatng. It is a juridical point. It
stands high above all other considerations be-
cause it shows that the issue Of the war IS
one of Justice and Of right, and the Spaniards
see that these are with the Allies.
Certain German propagandists have sue
ceeded by their conduct and by their declara-
ton in convincing many Spanards Of the abb
solute iniquity of the German cause. Even
those Spaniards who until recently looked
upon Germany with sympathy and even with
admiration.
Lastly, many Spaniards see that by
happy circumstance the moment has arrived
when our disinterested love Of justice and
our national interests can harmonIousV
unite England joined in the war to honor
her signature on the treaty which guaranteed
the neutrality of Belgium. But We know also
that the neutrality Of Belgium has great
international Importance for England. IL mas
got Just the same Importance for those span
iards who show legitimate sympathy for
the Allies. They feel that their future in tho
political progress of Europe is linked TO that
of France and England and that only with
these countries can they hope to realize a
prosperous development. Weigh these consid'
erations carefully, and you Will find the oes'
guarantee Of the true and solid adhesion OF
Spanish opinion on the side Of the Allies. II
is quite possible that this adhesion may no'
manifest itself b. the use of arms, but IN
CONFLICTS like the present war military help
is not the only thing that counts. There arc
other means equally useful which can be re-
sorted to without breaking official neutrality
And this Is more than ever the case when
the very fundamental principles Of life ana
character are being thrown into the balance
Such is Spanish opinion fairly and faith
fully represented And there is in fact no
country in Europe or in the civilized word
to-day that honestly finds itself IN sympathy
with Germany and its murderous metnoa''
! Il has antagonized the whole world. To-Day
is the Germania contra mundum. Such beng
the fact, America could not find ITSELF Il
never a Lusitania were sunk, siding WIN
power so INSCRIPTIONS il its ways, so unpr!n-
cipled in its methods and so utterly regard
| less in its dealings Of every idea OF honor ana
honesty. Twelve months ago even the closest
student Of the damnable doctrine Of merei-
less miitarism could not have thought tha'
when let loose 1t could have shown sueh
fruits Of ferocity" as We saw with dismay
/ in Flanders and in France. IL is 70 stay tn1'
awful monster and to check that plague thA'
the Allies are fighting to-day with the sym
pathy OF the entire civilized world and tha'
American opinion unites with so cordially.
R. l. KELLY, 4. O,
l Dublin, Ireland, June 10, 1919 ---.s-..-Al