The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-07-28

suggestion that, If we do get in.
it's likely to lead to a conflict be-
tween two continents. Evidently
he meant continental Europe and
North America, for he said some
kindly things relative to the west
ern hemisphere's Latin republics.
which unquestionably he's trying
to line up as pro-Axis. He added,
however, that inter continental
strife certainly would ruin the
Latin group.
Then came Undersecretary of
State Sumner Welles, with his I'M
merciful panning of Franco and
his prediction that Hitler and
Mussolini soon will involve such
Old World countries as are still
at peace, in fighting on that side
of the Atlantic. He didn't specify
Spain and Portugal but he couldn't
have been referring to any others.
for they're the only ones still on
the side lines, except Sweden and
Switzerland.
Now, II TELEGRAPH doubtless lib
eled President Roosevelt, in accus-
ing him Of planning an anti-Axis
campaign by way Of Spain and
Portugal. Nevertheless, there has
been plenty of talk of an American
occupation of .Portugal's Azores
and Cape Verde islands, for the
South Atlantic's protection against
Axis activities. 1t also has been
remarked that a British landing on
Portugal's own coast would be
sound strategy on John Bulls part,
as giving him a first class base for
an overland thrust at the Axis
through Spain and France. 4
Into Francois Hand
This would scare the Portuguese
nearly to death, because it would
give Caudillo Franco the excuse
he has almost openly been waiting
for TO invade and grab their little
realm. the AXIS naturally would
encourage him to do it, and they're
not strong enough to put up much
of. a defense.
All the same, the Portuguese
are pro-British, and ~assuredly
would welcome John Bulls forces
presence among them il they con.
sidered EN- strong enough to make
a success of their venture.
British expeditionaries and Por.
tuguese combined might find il
difficult to stand off Caudi1e
Franco plus such help as the Axis
would have to give him. through
France. into his own country and
on into Portugal. That is, that
probably would be the ease,,pro-
vided Ell Caudillo we're fixed tc
strike with 100 per cent emphasis.
But FL Caudillo's weakness is
that at least half of his people are
ferociously anti-Franco. He ha.
a sufficient number Of Spaniards
to lick Portugal in a walk, IL they
were united. Split two ways,
though, with the nti-Francoites
furiousfy attacking the Franco
alignment, Ell Caudillo wouldn't be
in a position to do more than de.
fend- himself from his enemies al
home (maybe he couldn't do even
that for very long). to say MOTH
ing Of dealing with the Portuguese.
He'd have a civil war on his hand.
again in jig-time, it's a safe calcu.
lation.
Another Factor
Another factor enters into the
equation.
frances -Falangist same
thing. in Spanish, as a Nazi in
German or a Fascist in Italian,
But SPANS anti-F rancoites are
mostly Communists, and Commu-
nism's at war with everything
Nazi-istic. Fascistic or Falangistic.
Well, as already has been OBJ
served our state department Is
considerably worried over Com
nunistic symptoms in Latin Amer.
Ca.
The Caudillo's been doing his
BEST to make himself a pro-Axis
influence there, but he's handi.
capped by this Latin American
Communistic sentiment, whatever
I may amount to. Now suppose,
light in his home country, he gets
nto another civil war with the
spanish Communists against him.
Won't that be calculated to nullify
lin with all Latin American Com !
nunistic sympathizers?
Nope. We don't like Commu- )
ism, Out II comes in rather hand--
~ at this particular iuncture Us :