The Pittsburgh Press (April 16, 1946)
Background of news –
The problem of Spain
By Bertram Benedict
Whatever the U.N. Security Council finally decides on the problem of Gen. Franco’s Spain, the decision hardly can be more inept than the approach of the great powers to the problem in 1936.
Of course the situation is different now. In 1936, Gen. Franco was leading a revolt against the Spanish government. Today he heads the government; and his former opponents although they have formed a government in exile, are not actually in the field.
Ten years ago, the United States washed its hands of the Spanish issue. The neutrality legislation in effect in 1936 applied only to wars between nations and the Loyalist government was able to get some war supplies in the United States.
Congress had adjourned. When it reassembled in January 1937, President Roosevelt asked that the Spanish Civil War be brought within the neutrality legislation. Congress responded with a joint resolution – passed unanimously in the Senate and with only one dissenting vote in the House – forbidding arms exports to Spain.
But last February the United States government went on record as hostile to Franco’s regime, although it opposes actual steps against him.
Circumstances different now
In 1936, Nazi Germany was fast reaching ascendancy in Europe, and Great Britain and France were unwilling to provoke an armed conflict with Hitler or his partner, Mussolini. Today, Germany and Italy are conquered nations.
In 1936, the Soviet Union still was somewhat of an international outcast. In 1946, the Soviet Union, supported by a number of satellite states in the United Nations, probably is as potent in international affairs as any other power.
Revolt against the Spanish government broke out on July 17, 1936. On August 1, the Popular Front government of France under Leon Blum called for general non-intervention. On August 19, Great Britain imposed an arms embargo; France already had imposed one.
By August 24, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Portugal had accepted the French draft of August 7 for an arms embargo and for exchange of information on how it would be applied. But there was no listing of the materials to be embargoed.
Violations charged
A Non-Intervention Committee of 27 states convened in London on September 9, 1936. To it came charges of Madrid that Germany, Italy, and Portugal were violating the agreement, Russia’s threat to pull out unless the Axis stopped helping Franco, Germany’s charge that Russia was helping the Loyalists.
On October 25, Germany and Italy came out for Franco, and on November 18 they recognized his regime as the legal government of Spain. By the end of the year Germany and Italy were actively aiding the rebels, Russia the Loyalist government.
In January 1937, Great Britain banned recruiting, and in the following month the Non-Intervention Committee banned all volunteering.
In the summer of 1937, London and Paris “talked tough” about attacks on neutral shipping in the Mediterranean, and the so-called Nyon anti-piracy agreement was adopted, but that was about all, and the international non-aggression policy became an open farce.