The Soviet Government's threat to withdraw from the agreement for non-intervention in Spain has raised serious issue. many, Italy assisted the insurgents in contravene tion of the understanding among the principal European powers, Soviet Russia threatens to offer assistance on a large scale to the present Popular Front Government unless immediate measures are taken to Prevent further violations of "the Pact. 'This assistance, it is indicated, will' take" the form of supplies and aeroplanes in which respect the Government forces are particularly weak in comparison with the insurgents, Whether the Soviet Government. seriously intends to carry out its threat or whether this is merely.
"bluff" to force other nations to action remains to be seen, but there {sno disguising the fact that itis a definite attempt to embroil other' countries in a statement of policy in regard to affairs in Spain but fo a definition of anti-Fascist oppos!- tion which would. incidentally imply pro-Communist sympathies. The political alignments of the European powers vis-d-vis the Spanish Popular Front Government are extremely complicated, for while there is a natural support for the legal administration now in existence without any implicit approval of the political foundations fon which it exists, there is also in some countries direct opposition 19 the political basis of the Insurgents and their motives which does not mean that this constitutes support for their opponents. The result of Russia's "action threatens the con-nuance of the non-intervention pact to which the leading countries "are subscribers, but it would be folly of degree tantamount to madness, if this action should lead to the abandonment of neutrality and the commencement of arms supplies to both sides to justify a political ered and undermine the peace of Europe, The Soviet Government's charges against other Governments who are alleged to have been helping the Spanish insurgents are set off by the Nonslntervention Committee against
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