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On the eve of our national convention,
we feel it is our duty to reiterate our
stand on the present European war.
This is not our war. It is a war whose
roots and causes and reasons for being
are the imperialistic rivalries of Britain
and France, and Germany.
When we left our native land to fight
for the Spanish Republic's existence as a
free and independent nation and people,
we enlisted in a fight for peace. We felt,
and we feel now, that had Spain been
victorious over its invaders, it would
have marked a turning point in history. It
would have meant the beginning of the
end of fascist aggression, the
establishment of a real people's
democracy in Spain. Such a victory
would have been a lesson and an
inspiration to all the peoples of Europe
and the world.
The people of Europe and the United
States rallied to Spain's defense. The
people of England and France were with
us-all of us, Spaniards and volunteers,
who fought for Spain. The people of Italy
and Germany, whose regular soldiers and
technicians were sent to fight against us,
sent us messages of their solidarity. Not
once but a hundred times shells fired
against us from German cannon failed to
explode. Upon examination, we found
these shells were defective; and we found
more: in the mechanism of these
projectiles there were notes "Salud,
camaradas! Hasta la victoria."
But Spain lost the war. Why? The
American people were for us, but the
reactionary ruling forces of this country
failed to lift the embargo, failed to supply
us with the arms we legally and
rightfully deserved.
The French and English people were
for us, but Daladier and Blum and
Chamberlain contrived that weapon
which was more deadly than bombs and
shells and bullets - non-intervention.
While Hitler and Mussolini did the open,
dirty work, the so-called democracies
clinched our defeat by tying our hands
behind our backs.
The only country which helped Spain in its
struggle for freedom was Soviet Russia.
From the U. S. S. R. came arms, planes,
wheat for the people of Spain. But
unfortunately for Spain, the U. S. S. R. was a
great distance away; had it been closer to us,
had proximity enabled it to supply Spain
with its urgently needed sustenance and
materials of war, Spain would long since
have been independent and free.
Many have remarked that the present war
is a curious war, with England and France
shadow-boxing against Germany, instead of
fighting. The alignments are curious:
Chamberlain and Churchill try to win their
people by declaring it is a fight against Hitler
and what he stands for; yet at the same time
they woo Mussolini, who was Hitler's
model.
The pattern is very clear. It has been well-
stated by Mr. Jay Allen, the foreign
correspondent who for a long time reported
the war in Spain:
"In 1932, 1933, the forces within Britain
and France forced upon the German people a
Hitler. In 1931, 1932, it was they, the forces
in England,
(Continued on Page 12)
THE VOLUNTEER FOR LIBERTY
organ of
The Veterans of the
ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE
NATIONAL NEW YORK CITY
HEADQUARTERS:
LONGACRE 3-6213
55 WEST 42 ST.
"... AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE
PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE
PEOPLE, SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE
EARTH." -- LINCOLN
