Anglo Spanish Relations Improved Through Cardinal Hinsley and British

Catholics—SAYS SPANISH JOURNALIST
In an interview with Don Filipe Armesto, London correspondent of Ya, one of Madrid's leading newspapers and successor to the famous Catholic daily El Debate, the well-known Spanish journalist discussed Anglo-Spanish relations.
He agreed that the Government's intentions were good, whereas the Press was generally unhelpful. But Britain has much to be thankful for in Spain's memory of the sympathy shown by Cardinal Hinsley and the staunch and unceasing understanding of British Catholics.
Discussing our war aims, he noted the same underlying difference between our Christian aims and the apathy of public opinion.
The interview ended with a discussion of the Tangier question and an expression of fervid admiration on his part for the way Britain was resisting aerial attack.
Remembering that I was talking to a man whose country has already embarked on its own task of reconstruction along the lines of social and economic reform, I began by asking Don Felipe Armesto for his reactions
as a Spaniard to our plans for a New Order. " We British, too, have our basic points for a new scheme of things once we have won our Christian fight against Paganism," I told him, and reminded him of the points issued at Christmas by Cardinal Hinsley and other Church leaders, points which they have based on the Pope's own five.
" Your remark contains two distinct statements," he ieplied smilingly, " the first is about 1he points for a New Order, the second is an affirmation of the well-known British viewpoint that your fight is one for Christianity as against Paganism. I respect this viewpoint. Please do not think otherwise," he added kindly. " But with regard to the Church leaders' points," went on Sefior Armesto, " you will not deny that we have not heard as yet whether your Government and the British people accept them."
As If reading my thoughts, he added: " Did not one of your Catholic M.P.s say that he was not surprised at the lack of enthusiasm in the reception of the letter by the British Press because the British Press was pagan?" Again Selo?. Armesto was too polite to say more, and I admired his Latin shrewdness.
SIGNIFICANT ATTITUDE OF IRELAND He enlarged in another direction, however, which brought him eventually to British war aims. " It is difficult for the Catholic Spaniard, as you know yourself, to understand how Catholic and non-Catholic Church leaders can unite in a common purpose and appeal, as they have done. The Spaniard remains suspicious, and his reluctance to believe in the sincerity of British war and peace aims is not removed, when he sees the refusal of Catholic Ireland to take sides with you in your struggle.
" On the other hand, the sympathy shown by Cardinal Hinsley in so many ways towards Spain, the staunch and unceasing support of the English Catholic Press for General Franco, and the assistance of English Catholics which was rendered in so many ways, and which Spain will never forget, do a great deal, if not everything to clarify British war intentions to our people, at least to improve the relations between the two countries. I have often bad occasion to quote articles in the CATHOLIC HERALD when writing to my papers, which prove your never failing interest in our work of reconstruction, and I arranged for a film of Cardinal Hinsley to be sent to Spain, where it was shown throughout the country."
I asked Senor Armesto whether increased propaganda to Spain on the part of leading English Catholics would help us to explain to his countrymen what we are fighting for, but, as a neutral, he declined to answer.
OLD SORE OF GIBRALTAR.
He then spoke aboin the relations between our two countries, which, he admitted. " could be better. The old sore of Gibraltar has been worsened through the Civil War," he said, " when England's indecision prolonged our agony unnecessarily. The enemies of the Nationalist Movement would not have resisted the three long years they did, had they not had some hope all the time of open British intervention on their side. The result to-day is that the disillusioned individuals who were induced to oppose General Franco bitterly deplore their having hoped for England's help, and blame her for their troubles. Those who rallied to the support of General Franco right from the beginning have even more cause, naturally, for complaint. Add to this the fact that one and all in Spain are now united in praising the Government's efforts towards internal settlement, to the extent that all Spain can be said to be one with General Franco, and you will agree that the need for improving our relations is urgent." " We are working towards that end," I remarked.
" Your Government is," he corrected, " but do you not think your popular Press is impeding its efforts? Instead of being constructive and showing what our leaders are doing for Spain, the-Press here either passes us by completely or turns aside from time to time in order to rake up the past, making mountains out of mole-hills. and inventing stories of internal divisions which are as stupid as they are unnecessary."
" HISPANIDAD " " What you say will only confirm the opinion of some people in England that Spain will enter the war against us," I said. " I earnestly beg you to ask people here to try and understand what Spain's goal is," replied Senor Armesto. " Her policy is to assure herself internal and external peace, not to rest till she has recovered her international rights, and to give herself once more the honoured and independent place in the family of nations which she enjoys by right and by virtue of achievement in many long years of glorious history, which have now culminated in her recent and overwhelming triumph over the forces of Communism.
" Spain's policy. more than imperialist, Is imperial, in so much at she seeks to unite her people under one leader. Beyond her borders she seeks also to revive her spiritual empire by accentuating the
Hispaiddad.' that is. the ' Spanish consciousness,' born of common ancestry. ture, language and religion, which binds her to the South American Republics."
TANGIER—A SPANISH CITY I then turned to the topical difference over Tangier and suggested that Spain had taken advantage of England's present emergency in order to carry out certain imperialistic designs.
" Your suggestion is understandable," he admitted courteously, " but may I explain
the position as we see it in Spain? The great majority of Europeans in Tangier are Spanish. It is essentially a Spanish city that we have re-incorporated in Our nation, and not foreign territory that we have invaded. The previous international arrangement there comprised a commission of Italian, French, British and Spanish representatives, in whom was vested governing power, and friction, which was frequent, was accentuated at the outbreak of this war.
"A little international war all on its own, would have broken out in Tangier, which had been seething with intrigue as the result of lack of cohesion that led to a weakened authority, and so Spain took possession of the city in order to safeguard the interests and lives of her own people, who, as you see, form the vast majority of the inhabitants.
" There is a de lure consideration. as well. The arrangement whereby Tangier was internationalised at the beginning of this ,century was accepted by Spain twho nevertheless never ceded her exclusive rights to the city) under protest, and at a time when she was weakened by the disasters of the Cuban War, In 1902 our Ambassador in Paris, Leon de Castillo, had concluded an aggreement with France, giving Oran, Casablanca and Tangier to us. That was at the time when friction in Egypt between England and France nearly led to war between them, so England, desiring to content France and pave the way for the ' Entente Cordiale,' cut across our agreement, gave Oran and Casablanca to France, and internationalised Tangier."
I had suggested to Senor Armesto that Spain had taken advantage of England's present difficulties to take Tangier, and I noticed he was too polite to say the same of England with regard to Spain when the latter was facing her own difficulties 40 years ago.
SENOR ARMESTO ADMIRES US " Perhaps some day we will talk more of these interesting subjects," I said to Senor Armesto: " meanwhile, what do you think of the way in which we face up to air-raids here in England? "
London has not suffered so much as newspaper reports would suggest," he answered, and then added enthusiastically : " I shall give you the Spanish equivalent for what Mr. Kennedy said of you when he declared you have ' Guts Schor Armesto did, but I am afraid I dare not translate it. Though it is far more forceful than Mr. Kennedy's definition, it is graphic, and even funny. There is no doubt about Seller Armesto's admiration for us.