The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-04-13
Spanish "Ifs'
(NeW York Times)

tNeW YOrk IlmeS)
 A month ago the in Spain seemed about to end in a Franco victory Developments of the lrast fortnight particularly the precpitate events of the past few days, have altered both picture and prospect Now if the extent of the defeats lately suffered by the Insurgents and their allies is not exaggerated, if reports of munies, revots and dis organization to be credited the drama appears to be hurrying toward a different denouement. If because exactly what is happening and what it means remain obscure Spain is hidden not behind one cur tain but behind two-the inside censorship that ban- kets the country from end to end and the outer of propaganda, accusations, counter accusa- tions diplomatic evasons and plain lies thrown up by the warning Powers involved in its fate To trate this heavy fog have only the flashes of light and fact out by few valiant reporters working under conditions of incredible difficulty.
 These flashes leave doubt that something de- csive is going inside Spain. Outside too, the fighting fronts appear to waver and reform. News from London Paris, Rome and Berlin confused and contradictory it is hints that the nterventonlsts are growing tired of intervenings It begins to look if the Powers that have made this war their own to no purpose but to prolong and magnify it. may be preparing to pull out and leave the field at last to the Spaniards themselves.
 Nothing is yet clear enough to assess the effect of the changes in process either on the Spanish or the international front. Still less these conse- quences clear enough to suggest that the hour ap breaches for new efforts toward truce in the horrors
 
 Malaga such a suggestion was construed as move to rob the Insurgents of their victory; now it would be interpreted in the opposite sense as an attempt to halt the advance of the Loyalists But the balance turns once more-is it for the last time?perhaps it is not one-sided to give thought to the Spanish people.
 The one incontrovertble fact in the whole tragic tange is that millions in Spain cover between the battle lines. These millions desperately weary of blood and terror They tired of living in con- pounds, cut off not only from the outer world but from most of their countries The peasants are tired of trampled fields and feeding foreign legion aries, They want nothing much peace. The borderlands that give on Spain-France, Portugal, Gibraltar-take different views of the conflict. but a agree that the civil populations under both Govern ments is bitterly sick of the war. In London It has been said from the beginning that the n-nterven- ton committee must be kept in being, because in the end it will serve board of arbitration between the warning forces This of course implied armis- tce among the contestants outside Spain. If these beginning to back down, then there is gmmer Of hope, dim shadow in fog that they will be anxious for peace in Spain they have been bent war. If this transpires Spain may be said to have defeated the interventionissa szable victory in it. self It remains to be what the Spanish people will do then, whether in fact the civil war now ends or begins.