The civil war which has so long prevailed between Spain and the Provinces in South America still continues, without any prospect of its speedy termination.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
The Spanish Civil War, Britain was not involved in it. Going back a bit, there was the naval blockade to stop the slave trade in the 19th century; that was morally just. Shame they didn't bother to abolish slavery at the same time.
There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.
I venture to say no war can be long carried on against the will of the people.
Wars without military objectives have a tendency to go on forever.
After the desperate years of their own war, after six years of repression inside Spain and six years of horror in exile, these people remain intact in spirit. They are armed with a transcendent faith; they have never won, and yet they have never accepted defeat.
Unconditional war can no longer lead to unconditional victory. It can no longer serve to settle disputes... can no longer be of concern to great powers alone.
But now that the guerrilla fighting is over, the Spaniards are again men without a country or families or homes or work, though everyone appreciates very much what they did.
No war is inevitable until it breaks out.
There has not been a war in South America for fifty years, and I have every confidence that the countries of Central and South America are deeply in earnest in the maintenance of peace.
There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited.