How to Treat Spain
The opposition of some members of the Labour Party to the existence of normal relations between this country and Spain is more emotional than rational. Objecting to the re- moval of the ban on the export .of certain material, capable of both civil and military use, to Spain Mr. Ernest Davies declared on Monday that we could not possibly change our policy on grounds of experience " when it is immoral to do so." A great Liberal politician certainly said once that what is morally wrong can never be politically.rifht, but agreement on what is moral and immoral in the political sphere is usually difficult to achieve. To invoke moral canons in relation to trade with Spain is to abandon rational canons. Anyone may like or dis- like the form of government established in Spain, but it is essential to realise that that is the affair of Spaniards, not of Englishmen. Most sensible men recognise that we should have no right to attempt to overthrow the Communist regime on Russia or China even if we could. Hardly anyone desires to overthrow the Communist regime in Yugoslavia; on the con- trary, we are anxious to cultivate-friendship and develop trade relations with that country. There is no reason for not doing the same with Spain. The more we ostracise General Franco the less we are likely to influence him. From that point of view the Government's decision on exports is welcome.
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