Too much elation should not be felt over the fact that with the exception of, a few of the smaller Powers replies have been' received to the British compromise plan devised in connection with the Spanish dispute. That all the answers received notify assent to the plan may, in view of the reservations which have been made mean everything or nothing, though it is apparent that in some of them are all the ingredients necessary to make this latest British attempt to localize the effects of the Spanish civil war another one of those failures with which the history of the Spanish affair is replete. The resumes of the replies which have come to hand would give more reason for hope if the reservations insisted on had not assumed the complexion they have, for it is quite clear that though most of them have a basis of logic upon which they have been built up, they have been put forward not with any idea of bringing about an early settlement but to gain as much time as possible in the hope that before a final adjustment becomes possible, one side or the other will have gained a complete and lasting victory. Thus while the British plan goes a long way towards meeting the early policies of Germany and Italy by according the recognition of belligerent rights. which of course includes the recognition of the rebels as parties to the hostilities with some form of sovereign status, Russia still adheres to the stand refusing to grant any such recognition to General Franco and his supporters, The point, in the present state of affairs, is purely zeademic considering the large amount of territory which the insurgents now control and of which they are the de facto rulers. But it is possible that any delay in bringing about the suggested compromise may prove an opportunity for providing the Valencia government with an opportunity of retrieving fortunes which have been sadly shaken during the past few months. On the other hand the modification of the attitude of the other big Powers may be directly attributable to the satisfaction which they feel over the trend of recent events in Spain. If this is indeed so, any successes on the part of the Spanish government forces may again bring about a change in their attitude. Thus while the partial success of the compromise plan may be welcomed as something in the nature of a diplomatic success—albeit a very moderate one—the pessimism, which it is reported is being felt.in London, may in the ultimate result prove to be more than justified.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.