SPANISH RELIEF COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 208, 3 August 1937, Page 10

SPANISH RELIEF COMMITTEE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In Saturday’s “Evening Standard” a report was given of an address to the local Lunch Club by Mr B. J. Barnao, of Wellington, on the Spanish turmoil. He said: “There was clearly an impression abroad that General Franco’s cause was a Fascist rebellion against tho legitimate Spanish Government, but this was entirely false.” This certainly is an extraordinary statement, seeing that all the forces arrayed against the democratic Government of Spain assisting General Franco are definitely of the Fascist order. As to the rising being absolutely necessary because of the threat of the complete Communism of Spain prior to the civil war; we note the “civil war”; it again proves the gospel of violence cherished by the Fascist demagogy in suppressing political freedom and liberty of the people to choose their own government. Even if the majority of the people in Spain did desire a Communist regime, which documentary and authentic evidence proves to the contrary—the present composition of the Government supporting this fact—what moral right have Mussolini and Hitler in Spain assisting the rebel leader with men, munitions and money? The answer is obvious to the student of sociology. We are told by members of the New Zealand National Party that the Labour Government stands for Communism; in fact Hon. Adam Hamilton, the party leader, has said that the’ issue at the next general election will be Democracy v. Communism. Should the Labour Party be again triumphant at the polls it could be within the realm of possibility for the same Fascist forces to invade New Zealand and assist in the destruction of the Communist menace here, and the position would be analogous to the present position in Spain. In regard j to the 28 Governments in Spain in 57 months prior to the war, we would deem it a favour if Mr Barnao would furnish us with data in that respect. It would appear from his address that it was an inspired vision on the part of General Franco to anticipate by two days the Communist rising last year and to get in first, “before every Christian and patriot and every enemy of Communism in Snain would have been slaughtered.” Tim certainly has a dramatic appeal, but we wonder if Mr Barnao ever gives thought to tho fact that thousands of the same people have been slaughtered as a result of General Franco’s bomb dropping among the civil population in Spain. We wonder also if he has given thought to the bombing of Almerin from the air by the forces of Nazism, killing not only men and women but sweeping sweet little innocent lives of children into eternity. When we think of His command of love and mercy —“ Suffer little children to come unto Me”—-we wonder, what of the Day of Judgment 1 We understand that Mr Barnao’s address was not accepted wholeheartedly bv his audience, many of whom evidently knew the other side of the tragic drama Trusting Mr Barnao will oblige with the above information.—We are etc., THE LOCAL SPANISH RELIEF COMMITTEE.