Evening star., 1937-08-07

the profound and troubling
"A theme of this book The work,
to be sure, is concerned only with
Spain, and only with one village in
that distracted land. But it is likely
that thoughtful readers will see a
significant parallel between the disas-
ter whica overlook that Spanish ham,
let anG me threats against all liber-
slism which are latent in the pres
ent growing consolidation of the anti
liberals into communism and fascism
The town wa S Santa EulaNa, on the
island Of Ibiza 4 little of the Span
ish mainland, 1t was an ancient
place of human habitation; the
Phoenicians had stopped there. the
Romans had left their traces, the
Cioths, and so on through the &C.
ve'opment Of Europe from prehistoric
times to the present A short time
before the civil war broke out Elliot
Paul, American cX-p8triate, news
paper man and one of the founders
OF the review TRANSITION" spent some
time there and found the place and
decided ID bring his family there and
settle He did so. Almost Imme-
6iately the war began and he was
witness Of It's effects on the idyllic
little Gown and It's lovable people
A large part of the book is given
n describing town and people as they
were before war cast its shadow over
them. At that time they had a
nearly perfect liberal republican gov
eminent. They had little interfer-
-ence from above and almost complete
freedom of thought. They we're in
terested IN politics and practically
every man had his own political
philosophy. There we're. says Mr..
Paul. Communists there who had
never heard Of Marx or Lenin, there
were admirers Of the Old regime, there
were clericals and anti-clericals. But
these diverse opinions led to no feuds
or even breaches Of friendship. The
people Of Santa EuIalta were, first of
ell, interested in conducting their va
Tious businesses, getting IN their crops,
rearing their families and enjoying
the simple pleasures Of their inheri-
tance. Politics they deemed a SUBJ
!ect for intellectual discussion, and
they respected one another's views.
In other words, whether they en-
braced un-MarXian communism or
nn-Bourbon royalisn. they were lib
eral republicans. committed to using
and defending freedom Of thought and
speech and generally those properties
Of humanity which are so quantity
called the rights Of man They
were, indeed, says Mr.. Paul. like quiet
rustic JeferSons and Washingtons;
he found them more like Americans
tnan any other people whom ne en-
eountered In Europe.
Then the revolt broke out in near
BY Barcelona. The practical effect
OF the trouble on the Santa Eulalians
was at first simply that the daily mail
boat ceased 10 run and communica-
ton with the mainland was cut off
This disturbed the people, but they
adjusted themselves TO it. Their gen.
eral attitude was that they would ac-
cept whatever regime should be finally
set up on the mainland and, in the
meantime, would carry on as before.
They we're not infamed for one side
or the other.
Unhapply, their commandant was
corrupted by the Fascists, who saw
some advantage in having the island
es a base. This official declared mar
tial law and arrested the chief re-
publicans Of the village, although
none of them had taken any action,
one way or the other Resentment
naturally was reused; the island, long
80 peaceful, became divided into two
camps
Government forces next took their
part, Planes few over the village
dropping messages in which the loyal
populace was urged to shoot the
military guard which had gone over
TO the FaScists. Nobody wanted to
90 this, naturally Nobody wanted
martial law either. The situation
became worse and worse, with arrests
growing and the threat Of executions
hanging heavily over the friends and
l1eiehbors Of the prisoners. Finally
government forces landed and en-
gagged the Fascist troops. There was
fghtlng-rnore bloodshed, more arrests.
executions. TIE government tri-
tr1phed and the people hoped once
more for peace 70 20 about their
affairs Even those whose men had
lost their lives for the rebels accepted
the prevailing rule. AL any one
wanted was TO be let alone.
And, even after that unnecessary
blood d-lettng, the reader understands.
the village could have settled back
into peaceful neiehborly living. The
families Of the Loyal1sts had no hatred
for the families Of the Fascists. They
had punished the ring leaders, but
they helped and couforted the women
and children who were bereft. Their
ibera! principles q humanity, in
other words, remained dominant, tri-
uuphing over artificial and forced
differences ot party, class and creed.
The island 10 oe sure. SAYS Mr. Paul.
was not the ldylIc place tnag it had
been before the trouble. There was
bitterness and grief But the liberal
frame Of government remained and
In that frame, he says, the essential
sanity and Souncneas oE the people
could have adjusted itself 20 bear
with the new situation But that was
not 10 oe. The anarchists next moved
IN, the esoIaable p. a. J. Their first
act Was 70 attempt tergorization by
a mass execution Of all the prisoners
none Of whom. Incidentally, had had
trial The surviving leaders Of the
village unable 70 believe that these
r1obster8 represented their natlona.
government. took fight The un-
happy ISLAND became Il passing target
for any bombing plane and these
machines dropped their missiles or
peaceful markets where women were
buying family supplies quite as readily
AS on the fortress The Fascists ther
had another 80 AZ the place, this tins
using Italian planes and soldiers. Tht