Evening star., 1938-05-01
And0rra Between
Two Fires
BY FREDERIC ,. HASxIN.


periences during the long struggle. For
that matter, most people never have
heard Of Andorra anyway. Even Napo-
leon, when assaulting the Pyreaees TO
invade Spain, knew nothing of the coun.
try, and when told that 1t had been
independent for more than 500 years
declared that If that were so. surely he
would not interfere with it, and he old
not, although sweeping everything else
before him.
Andorra has seen many struggles cur.
ing It's $50 years Of independence, hut.
during the present war, has been like
q pebble between two millstones.
The people are fine race physically
and although only the aristocrats and
some tradesmen are literase, the masses
III one may call q population Of 1000
masses-are keenly intelligent. The
peasants speak Catalan and some
French. It would be difficult TO ASSAY
their political leanings, whether French
or Spanish, for they are the purest ex.
ample Of neutrality in the world. Even
their army Of 900 may not, under the
laws, cross their borders for any foreign
service. This neutrality Is remarkable
on the one hand, and natural on the
other, for the country lies squarely across
the French-Spanish border, high in the
Pyrenees.
Moreover. Andorra Is not wholly In.
dependent. 1t Is said in legendary way
that it was established by Charlemagne.
but the historic fact seems to be that
it was set up In 1878 as an independent
state by Count of Folk who had mar
ried Spanish heiress. Their lands
bestrode the border and to this day
France and Spain exercise supervisory
suzerainty over the toy nation. The
President Of France, as one of what
might be called the trustees, receives
$35 year for his services, but the Span.
ish Bishop Of SEQ d dUrgell, the Spanish
trustee, receives the munificent pay Of
5000 year.
There is a Council of "A elected by
the six valleys They are elected BY
heads of families and the Council in
turn elects Syndic. who is the chief
executive Of the land.
The country is very high, ranging
from 1000 to 5000 feet. The capital
city Of Andorra la Veija is a city of 600
souls. Before 1921 there was but one
road in the entire country, 1t running
from the French to the Spanish border
across Andora. No automobile or mo-
tion picture had ever been seen there
and radio was unknown. The peasants
grew their grain, potatoes, fruit and
tobacco and tended their livestock, chief.
ly goats. Then the French became in-
terested in the curious country and
French capital began small degree of
exploitation. Andorra was advertised
as summer resort, hotel was built and
some Of the medieval houses turned into
pensions. Most Importantly, however.
the swift River Valira was harnessed
for power and today one Of the impor-
tances Of Andorra is that this plant
furnishes a part of the electric current
for Barcelona and other Catalan cities.
Because Of the altitude, Andorra Is
almost cut of in winter, especially on
the French side. The only communities
ton Is by skiers, who bring up the mail
over the only possible pass. The Span
ish side is more open, but even there
transit is difficult.
The country Is accessible for ordinary
transport only four months q year.
Trade has been chiefly with the Span
tsh, because Of the easier access, but
the civil war has caused grave din.
culties. The Andorrans had been long
accustomed to accepting the Spanish
government pesetas, but when the war
came their value deteriorated to almost
nothing. Hardships were caused by
the low purchasing power. It took Q
stack OF pesetas to get French franc.
This situation caused the only approach
to breach Of neutrality in the Andor-
ran annals. A delegation approached
Franco to ask If his territory would sell
supplies to the Andorrans at par of the
Spanish peseta. He agreed and, while
deliveries must be made in a round-
about manner through French territory,
they are being made and the peseta ac-
cepted in payment. The whole trade Is
in small terms, but Franco has con-
Sidered the policy polite one.
y ~
There has been some supposition that
there was deal of gun-running through
Andorra, but that is said not to be the
case. Indeed, 1t would prove very diff
fcult to get anything heavy over the
tremendous heights of Andorra, but
the war does come close, in that it has
been regarded as haven for deSerters
from the loyalist army and for men of
A4A1AAooAy oSC VIII w Aot Wdi1t W tdkS
arms. Many attempt to reach the little
mountain state, but many also are shot
by the loyalists before they gain the
border. Those who do appear are in
complete destitution and misery, half
starved and half torn to pieces by the
haggard mountains they have secretly
traverSed.
" X
Andorra does not keep them, as that
might be regarded as a breach of neu-
trality in a military sense. The trade
agreement with Franco, being nom
military is not regarded as q breach.
The fugitives and refugees are sent
down the mountainside into France.
There the French authorities ask them
into which territory they wish to be de-
ported. Most elect for Frances. Almost
all are men, for woman could not
stand the hardships of an escape to the
mountain fastnesS.
Fearing that one Of the Spanish fac
tions might be tempted to take An
dora because of its strategic position,
the French have sent a command of
400 gardes mobiles, which occupies the
country. These are provisioned from
the military headquarters of the French
at Perpignan, at the foot of the noun
tain. 1t is said that their chief hard
ship is boredom, for there is little to do
In Andorra. During the short summer
season they may have their wives and
children visit them briefly, and, Of
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