then the question naturally arises as to whether hho is able to exercise that authority which it is necessary he should have if his government is to be recognized, or whether Italian interests, political as well as economic in Spain are to) [prevail over him. The fact that he is in con-{trol of a very large portion of Spain is support for the contention that recognition should be granted, but if in fact he is unable to control, the Italian troops and aviators fighting for him, itis obvious that recognition would in the Jcircumstances be useless. There is another point on which Britain should receive satisfactory guarantees before proceeding to recognize JGeneral Franco, and that is that peace when it comes will not begin in a welter of horror and reprisals. There has been some anxiety caused by General Franco's statement that only criminals will be punished. The natural question will be as to what he regards as a criminal, The definition is far too wide, and might permit of large numbers of people being the victims fof punishment merely because, like General Franco and his men, they fought for the ideals they held. If such men are to be punished, as it Is feared they will be, then large numbers. may expect to become the objects of General Franco's revenge. The fear that this will be the case has already been expressed by the Republi-lean leaders in Madrid, and is given as one of the reasons why Republican resistance should continue to the very end. Nothing should be [done by the British Government to encourage that attitude, for it is decidedly in the interests of the Spaniards themselves that an early ter~ mination chauid now be put to the struggle. Actually the answer lies with General Franco. ¢-he would abandon all his threats of reprisals, even against those he brands as criminals, and apparently there are so many of them," and grant a general amnesty in the event of the Republicans laying down their arms, he would be acting with that degree of humanity which might very. well Indueo his opponents to give Up What appears now to be a fruitless struggle. If on the other hand the supporters of the} Republican Government have nothing but the prospect of severe reprisals being made upon them for their loyally to their governors, then there will be nothing left but to ght to the fend, a sickening prospect in the light of all that Spain has suffered up to the present.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.