Opportunity Knocketh

The deluge of profundity concerning the delicacy and portent of relations between the western democracies and Russia, which has been pouring from the typewriters of American journalists, has temporarily obscured the increasing threat to world peace inherent in the internal structure and probable ambitions of the two Spanish speaking, fascist-type nations--Spain and Argentina.

Both nations are controlled by men who were friendly toward the late, unlamented Axis powers. Both nations contain numerous refugees from Germany and Japan. The governments of both nations are so constituted that they can continue to prosper only in an atmosphere of suspicion and nationalistic club waving. The type of threat which they present is one which by now should be well understood by our government. Yet, these unregenerated banditti proceed to sow the seeds of war, unmolested.

The possibility of formal solidification of the Madrid-Buenos Aires Axis is increased by the presence in Argentina of a Spanish mission, headed by Tomas Suner, the intent and probable outcome of which is to secure economic assistance for Franco's bleeding government. Though neither country as yet possesses the economic or material attributes of a first rate power, Argentina, at least, has the potential capacity for an extended and effective military effort.

As the world has learned all too well, the time to quell rambunctious Fascists is before they have attained the military strengh to enable them to engulf peace loving nations. The opportunity for such action will be presented when the United Nations General Assembly meets on October 23. The Spanish problem is certain to be on the agenda. Perhaps nothing more than a dearth of fresh air will result from these deliberations; but if the U.N. passes up this chance to exert moral, economic, or military pressure upon the only remaining Fascist axis, it will have wasted its most convenient opportunity to prove that the nations of the world are able to work together to secure peace.