Evening star., 1947-02-14


documents which served to condemn
the German war leaders revealed
strikingly the failure of the Axis
countries to force Spain to join in
the war.
"At other times, because of the
presence of Italians and German
volunteers in our ranks, we were
accused of the crime of having re-
ceived aid from those countries.
Nevertheless, no one wishes to
remember that in Madrid, under
what was called the legal govern
ment of the republic recognized by
all the countries, the Soviet Ambas-
sador was the head ruler; that
Soviet general staff officers con-
trolled the Ministry of War and In
terror and every other branch OF
government, and that Russian tanks
airplanes and units constituted the
nucleus of the Republican army.
More than 100000 Communists OF
the International Brigade were the
shock troops while, in Nationalist
Spain, foreign volunteers represent
ed a minority in our army.
Communist propaganda claims
we sold the sovereignty of our
country because Of German and
italian aid. Yet when the war
started, Spain declared itself neutral
at time when Spanish collabora-
ton was judged indispensable in
Berlin and Rome.
Played Cards Carefully.
"In those difficult days when
Germany's victorious armies did
not have an opponent on the con-
tinent, we resisted the pressure and
played our cars carefully.
For the success of the Amer
lean forces in North Africa, Span
ish neutrality was indispensable
If Spain had broken her neutrality
or had facilitated the passage OF
German Armies through her terri
tory, or if we only had permitted
the use of our airdromes, your situ-
alton would have been difficult. This
has been publicly acknowledged by
responsible men in the general Staf1s
of the United States and Great
Britain.
These facts should answer the
propaganda that we were Nazi pup
pets. Victory has obliterated the
remembrance Of the high and low
noints of the war
I'VE can say that, actually, two
wars existed. The first was that
of France and England against Ger
many, which France lost. The Sec
ond was that in which America
Joined Russia and England, and 1t
ended VIGOROUSLY.
Between the two wars, the Ger
man troops were victorious in Eu-
rope. No one, nor anything, op-
posed them. What was to happen
was difficult to prognosticate at the
time. Yet Spain resisted all OF
Berlin's pressures.
Spain is accused Of having aided
Germany with vital materials. This
Is not true. During the first part
Of the war through 1910, Spain did
not have land or sea communica-
tions with Germany. After France
collapsed, England's navy continued
to blockade Germany.
Purchases in France were reduced
to what could be transited across
France, with reshipment at Hen
daye. This was drop in the ocean.
An investigation of this fact would
produce great surprises.
Cites U. s. Sales to Japs.
with nine German divisions on
our border, we had to be careful.
But you, the mightiest power on
earth, continued selling to the jap
anese in spite of the fact they were
preparing war against you. You
shipped them essential war mate
rials, minerals and gasoline until a
short time before Pearl Harbor. Yet
you defended and helped the cause
Of invaded China.
mo doubt it was diplomatic
move, with the purpose of gaining
time, although 1000 miles separated
you from Japan.
"a powerful German Army was
camped on our borders. Yet be-
cause Spain did the same thing
that you did, it was branded as
abject submission to the Germans
and conclusive evidence of pro-
Nazism and Fascism. Is this not
paradoXical?
"I do not intend to make excuses
They are not necessary. My acts
are being judged by my country
men, to whom I gave peace in the
midst of a aworld at war. And in
doing that, I served your country
also.
THAT Communism does not like
us is reasonable. Nor do we like
Communism. 1t endeavorS to 'liber-
ate Spain as it did Poland ano
Yugoslavia.
But America is different. Ira.
ditionally, America has tried te
avoid interference with the politica
life of other countries. Under the
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