SPANISH TURMOIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 206, 31 July 1937, Page 11

SPANISH TURMOIL.

LUNCH CLUB ADDRESS. The subject of the present turmoil in Spain was chosen by Mr B. J. Barnao, of Wellington, for an address to the Palmerston North Citizens’ Lunch Club yesterday. Mr R. W. Priest presided, and visitors welcomed were Dr. Friedlander and Mr R. Davys. Mr W. Welton was elected a new member. There was clearly an impression abroad, said Mr Barnao, that General Franco’s cause was a Fascist rebellion against the legitimate Spanish Government, but this was entirely false. It was, he said, a rising rendered absolutely necessary because of the threat of the complete Communism of Spain, to which, prior to the civil war, there had been a constant flow of Bolshevik literature. During the past 57 months, before the outbreak of hostilities, there had been 28 Governments in Spain, showing the chaotic state of affairs which had culminated in the present bloodshed, added the speaker. Russia had, he claimed, been behind the intensification of Red propaganda in Spain, and had attempted to precipitate a revolution in Portugal to take General Franco in the rear. The Spanish Government, prior to the war, had merely been a '‘stop-gap” pending the full release of the forces of Communism and anarchy, plans for a revolution to achieve this having been laid months before the war. The genuineness of this had been borne out by antecedent and by subsequent events. The Communist rising was originally destined for May or June of last year, but was postponed until July, and then anticipated by two days by General Franco. The plain fact was that lie acted first, before every Christian and patriot, and every enemy of Communism in Spain, woidd have been slaughtered. Appreciation of the address was expressed by the chairman on behalf of the club after the speaker had answered a number of questions.