Evening star., 1936-12-20
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

EoF1 e IIle DOuQueLo dDOuL lOy-
atty and sense of duty thrown
by Prime Minister Stanley
Baldwin at Edward VIII at
the time of his abdication, England
and the Dominions were sadly disap-
pointed over Edwards decision at this
critical moment in the history of the
world
For the time being the scene of dan
ger once more has been shifted from
the East to the West The Spanish
civil war has become International
lied and there is a strong possibility
that the first shots in the next world
eonflagration have been fired in Spain.
Gen. Francisco Franco was checked
at the gates of Madrid the day after
his government was recognized by the
German and the Italian governments.
His entry into Madrid was stopped
not by the disorganiZed bands of 10y
alists but by the Foreign Column.
The Foreign Column, a new organi-
ration in the loyalist army, is not COM
posed of adventures who are fighting
because they share the ideas of the
communist government. 1t is an Or
ganization which originated in France
Thousands of French reservists-vol-
unteers, it is true-have crossed the
Pyrenees and offered their services
TO the Valencia government. There
are number of Russians and Belgians
among them, but according to reliable
reports, the French form IS per cent
of the column. 1t is led by French
and Soviet officers, has ample ammu-
milton and knows how to fight. AL
though its number does not exceed
5000 men, it was powerful enough to
turn the tide of the war and tempo
rarily save Madrid
frances troops are exhausted The
first serious resistance prevented them
from continuing their march through
Spain. Under the circumstances, the
Spanish dictator appealed to his spon-
sors, Hitler and Mussolini. The re-
suit Of his appeals was that a German
detachment of 5000 men landed in
Spain about three weeks ago, and is
expected to enter the firing line as
soon as reinforcements from Italy
become available.
Neutrality Guise Held Discarded.
Italy has discarded, completely, all
pretense of neutrality Recruiting
officers to help the Spanish breth-
ren" have been opened in Rome and
other important cities in Italy, and an
expeditionary force of volunteers is
expected to sail for an unknown des-
tination" shortly.
Observers who are with the Spanish
general staff at Salamanca report
that more italian than Spanish is
spoken there, while German officers
are everywhere. including the press
bureau at Salamanca.
OF course, there will be good deal
Of diplomatic quibbling over these
volunteer" forces. The argument Of
the Blum government is that the men
who are fighting on the side of the
Valencia government might be
French. but the government has no
means of controlling its citizens once
they are out of the country; and every
Frenchman who asks for a passport
can obtain one for a few cents.
The German and the Italian ex-
plantations are awaited with interest.
German and Italian citizens are rig
orously controlled by the government.
Passports are expensive and it is cas-
Ter to obtain permit to see the Dalai
Lama than for a German or Italian
citizens to obtain a passport to travel
abroad.
Clash Expected Soon.
These small forces-the foreign
aviation which is fighting in Spain
may be left out for the time being
will clash very soon. 1t is believed
In well-informed quarters in WASH
ington that after the first encounter
the antagonistic powers will throw
of their masks and make definite
issue out of the Spanish conflict.
The Neutrality Committee, which is
still holding regular sessions in Lon
don, has become a joke for every one
except some of the high-minded Brit
ish diplomats. Apparently it serves
one good purpose-it affords more
time to the continental nations to.
complete their armament. The last
preparations for a war are being
rushed in almost every country in
Europe.
In Great Britain, besides the fever