1937-07-23 — Page 8

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 23, 1937.

SPAIN AS THE COLONY

imprès-

OOKING back on my

sions of Spain, I will try to sum up what I have learned about the meaning of this Civil War.

I moved among millions of men and women united by a purpose.

The young recruits were gay and eager. The common folk of Madrid, hardened to daily bombardments, displayed a serene endurance.

my

very word that reached ears; every article in newspapers every shade of that reflected opinion from Anarchism to Libera- lism; the posters that turned men's thoughts into a sign-language- they all bespoke a unanimous will. To win what?

The first answer that emerges is

-BY-

H.N. BRAILSFORD

Since the National Independence. New Year the character of the war has changed. The Republic is in- creasingly conscious that it is re- pelling an invasion by the two Fascist Powers. They have aroused mighty hatred, that had, like all hate, its ugly manifestations.

3.

I felt around me, as other for-

eigners also did, a growing nation- alism that may become narrow and

exclusive..

the foreign

....

the

.com-

OF

FOREIGN FINANCE

bate. Led by the rebel generals, the ruling class challenged a trial of strength.

a

problem in these regions?

That is the central theme of this the grandees Civil War, because drew from these vast estates wealth and prestige that enabled them to dominate Spanish politics --but only with the aid of Army and Church.

-:

The second problem of power is These, as the People's Front sees

caste army; it had, until the other its problems are primarily the centred in the army. It was a land, the Army, the Church.

Over the greater part of Spain, day, one officer to six men. Through had compelled the Democracy will be defeated, or best it will survive as an empty the North and the East, the land it the gentry word, unless the reality of power presents no fundamental problem, masses to feed, clothe and house With this social composition the passes with victory to the mass of Most of it is owned by small pea- them.

sants, who cultivate their little

army was the foundation of class the nation.

Parliament dared legislate The...objective of the People's holdings like gardens.

There are, however, even in the rule. Front is. not a proletarian revolu- tion, not Soviets, but Parliamentary peasant areas, a few big farms, and only up to a point that would not

the democracy. This

Spanish where these have been abandoned provoke its generals to revolt, and

owners, they have that point was easily reached.

To-day in Republican Spain the Communist Party, which is rising in by their rebel influence and even in numbers to been turned into "collectives.”

The big problem of ownership real basis of democracy is the "po- and pular, regular army.” It is based on a leading position, affirm's as stout-

chiefly in the South ly and bluntly as its Socialist and arises

South-West, where vast estates universal service. Its men retain, their and peasants, as workers Liberal allies.

citizens: What in detail does this mean- are the rule.

To put the issue of principle at rights and opinions as Second Chamber, a federal system?

Its officers are merely senior. That kind of thing is a minor con- its simplest-shall the elected Par- they are not drilled into automata. šideration. It means the capture liament of Spain enjoy the effective of the seats of real power.

THE

right to legislate for the agrarian more expert soldiers. They form no caste, for most of them were work- ers in civilian life. For the loyalty of each of them one of the Republi- can parties has vouched. Power Of Church

WORLD GOES BY By "ULYSSES"

coming to rivers?

I do not know in detail what the People's. Front proposes to do about the Church. It is pledged to re- establish the free exercise of all re- ligious faiths, though, in fact, out- side the Basque country only the

at

few Protestant chapels are open. You know yet sometimes see her as it were

Equally, it is pledged to destroy you ever cross bridges before well as a woman can be known, and what I mean, anticipating interviews afresh, in some new situation, atti- (say with a waiting girl friend on tude, gesture, surroundings, that will the economic and political power of

masses hated and feared. A clever poster interested me. your way to a date very much late) endow her with unfamiliar charm. a Church whose higher clergy the

little and arranging the conversation be-This well-known fact applies as ap-

It may not be easy to negotiate a On a map of Spain were

as a chess tly to the colour of Hong Kong. We drawings showing mine workings, forehand, somewhat electrical plants, factories and

player arranges his moves. If she may have been here for years, and ew basis with Rome, but in the answer feel able to classify such seasonable meanwhile the Republic would be

wise to permit the reopening like. The key gave the names of says so and so, you'll make

claim, least of some churches and the re- owners who control

thus and, thus. Then shall she say changes of aspect as it can

When yet comes a day when a new com turn of some priests who were not them Rothschilds, Morgans Sch-this, and thou wilt say that..

eye hasbination of colour arrests our

active rebels. neiders, and many British

you do get there, you find she

Then is there to be, the panies.

gone off with someone else. I play-and we see its beauty in a new light.

reader will ask, no advance Few corners of Spain and Moroc-ed this game on the ferry yesterday The recent mixed weather has meant co were empty. Under the map morning, coming to office abominably mixed lights, and the inter-play of towards Socialism, in Spain? Not as a general system, while the ran the caption : "The true reasons late. I had been sitting up very light and colour cannot have

Theocritus in the more wonderful results anywhere in People's Front endures; partially, for false neutrality.”

late, reading

Opal and pearl skies, perhaps, in some directions as an .`Spain is awakening to the per-original Greek, and had rotten luck, the world.

series experiment. ception that she is a colony of in-never drawing the cards I wanted; alternating with blue, in

Ilof rapid and fickle changes, have The People's Front has a history. ternatonal finance. In the past and on top of that the watch

It must of these foreign investments were purchased the other day at a second-produced a kaleidoscope that has It was adopted in the darkest hour reaction, after the workers, widely scattered Swias, Belgian hand shop developed a new stunt, in been pure joy to watch. and French capital mingled with which the works back-pedaled and have intrigued and tricked some of struggling alone, had sustained a I ex- our local painters into alternations crushing defeat. It is not merely a British and American.

moved the hands backward.

and Socialists

Com- But if Franco should win, the pected the editor to make a remark of hopeful enterprise and despair-tactic; it is a contract between

Liberals, Iling renunciation. prospect is something approaching about it; not an angry one, for

course, All the above is, of

the munists. a German and Italian monopoly.have never seen him so yet (at least

There is, however, another de- Under the control of these Powers not much), but in a tone of friendly result of the late nights I have been would pass the immense mineral remonstrance, which would have spending of late. The next morn-cisive reason that stands in the function way of any broad Socialistic trans- "You have reason,'

"ing the brain refuses to wealth of the Peninsula they been worse.

apt to formation to-day. Capitalism in would dominate its business, its I said to myself.. "I admit that in normal fashion.

is a foreign institution; diplomacy and its armed forces: 10.45 is a bit late to start work. But turn from a drink-sodden wretch in-Spain

I do to a sensitive individual with rare Spaniards dare not imitate Russia This nation, then, is fighting just think what it means.

I become poetic. by confiscating this imported to regain Spain for the Spaniards. twice as much work in thirty flights of fancy.

wealth, but equally their country is too poor to buy it out.

}

*

I am

"Spain for the Spaniardsbut minutes as the best of the others do I even weep, sometimes.

such which Spaniards? The old feudal in a quarter of an hour, and

for ruling caste, or the masses of work- work? Quality; should count ers and farmers? The war of inde- something, shouldn't it?" And so I Am pendence has not obscured the on And no opportunity arose for Not Liked fundamental struggle of classes, my fine prepared arguments, for

*

say so.

a

Nor could any workable plan be devised that socialised native in- dustry while leaving foreign plants intact.

What has been done, save on the

But if I learned one thing from work had gone on just as usual, and There is a gentleman in Hong land, in transport and armaments, my stay in Spain it was that the I wasn't even missed. That made Kong who doesn't like this column is probably only provisional, though People's Front is a sincere and en-me feel very small, and to get even and has written in several times to to this general rule Catalonia may during reality.

with mankind I went on a binge last

I think he lives night and be • an exception. The struggle is not between night, which accounts for the spots day with the awful thought eternally. About the future I will guess workers and capitalists but rather before my eyes this morning, a large with him that he himself is jolly with modesty. I think that under between the masses and the old headache and two pink chimpanzees near perfect, and he shows positive: Senor Prieto, with Colonel Rojo (the ruling class.

with blue bases who are sitting on ly no sign of stress or strain. That brain of Madrid's, defence) as his my desk uttering strange oaths in a has me completely flummoxed. If Chief of Staff, the problem of the language resembling Patagonian.

Test Of Democracy

*

**

Against this background, republi: The Colour Of can democracy has a realistic Hong Kong

meaning, One must not think of it

I was so unvaryingly right as he war has been solved. claims to be, and never, never made

.i.

.

I do not believe that, the Republic a mistake, I'd be afraid to order a can be destroyed, but only on one fear condition would I predict an early new coat from the tailor, for

that the sprouting of wings would victory. That is, asured only if all of it round the foreign troops, and volunteers with-

draw.

simply as a method of voting, or It is possible to be intimate with spoil the set as the conduct of government by de: a woman, to know her as long and as shoulders.