Evening star., 1938-04-04
SPANISH WOMEN
MARCH IN CAPITAL
Group, 5000 Strong, Makes
Protest Against Arms
Embargo on Loyalists.
Pictures on page BID

Led by the widow Of an American
| killed in Spains civil war. 5000 Span
iSh-born women from large Eastern
cities paraded through the Capital
today prior to making formal pleas t.
Congress and the State Department to
revoke the arms embargo against the
democratically elected government of
Spain"
A near-riot was precipitated when
news photographers attempted to make
pictures Of one of the women who
collapsed outside Union Station, where
the Loyalist sympathizers arrived at
9 am. on special trains from New
York. Philadelphia and Newark.
With threats of You take a picture
of her and we'll smash your cameras"
dozens of the visitors swarned around
the camera men waving hats in front
of the lenses to prevent shots of their
fctigued comraoe.
Ms. Gonzales Is Leader.
Some Of the photographers sue
cecded in climbing the concrete rail-
ing and making pictures despite the
protests.
Well dressed. some in jaunty spring
flnery, they filled one end of the
Union Station rotunda and spread out
into the street while they waited more
than an hour for permit to parade.
The widow who headed the delega-
ton was Mrs. Ernestina Gonzales.
Phi. D., and former director of the
Madrid University Library She is
general secretary of the United Com
mittees Of Spanish Women in America.
an organization 10000 strong, which
sent the women here
Obtain Permit to March.
Finally obtaining police permission
to march. the women formed in lines
eight abreast, with the leaders carry
ing American flags and. the Spanish
colors and headed out Louisiana ave-
nue. NV, turned west on Constitution
avenue and proceeded around the
Ellipse to the rear Of the State De-
partment
Although there we're no outbursts,
some of the women carried placards
with such wording as: If We Allow
Germany and Italy to Massacre Spain
We Become Accomplices to Their
Crimes" Halt the German and
Italian Invaders by Selling Arms to
the Spanish Government" For Peace
in This Country, for Peace in the
World. Sell Arms to the Spanish Gov
ernment."
At the State Department the women
were brought to halt in the park
just south of the building, while a
delegation went inside.
The group consisted of DR.. Con-
zales. Representative Bernard. Farmer
Labor. of Minnesota; Mrs. Jerry
O'Connell. wife of Representative
O'Connell, Democrat, of Montana;
Carmen Conchado of New York and
Josephine Herbst, the novelist.
Group Leaves Petition.
The left with Assistant Secretary
Of State Gorge S. Messersmith a petit
ton which read:
I'VE. 5000 Spanish American
women, representing the United Com
mittees of Spanish Women in Amer
lea, with membership of 10000, re-
| spectfully urge our Government to
revoke Immediately the embargo
against Loyalist Spain and thus
ameliorate the suffering of the women
and children in Spain.
THE people Of Spain today defend
their soil and their democratically
! elected government against the in
vading armies of Hitler and Mussolini.
In this unequal strggle. the United
States denies them the right TO pur-
chase the defense weapons they so
desperately need.
In the name of the humanitarian
traditions for which this country has
always been known, we appeal to
American women, to our Government,
to church. labor, youth and fraternal
organizations to help us save our sis
ter democracy in Spain"
After leaving the State Department
the delegation headed for the Capt.
tol, where It's members were to call
on Representative McReynolds, chair
man Of the House Foreign Affairs
q .nittA0.