THE SPANISH WORKERS' DEFENCE OF DEMOCRACY
The conflict in Spain is not a Communist Revolution; it is not a conflict between "Left" forces and the forces standing for law and order; it is not a fight between "religious" and "irreligious" sections of the Spanish people.
The Spanish Workers are fighting against Monarchists, Fascists, and corrupt Clericals, who are striving to overthrow the democratically-elected Republican Government by force of arms.
The present Republican Government of Spain was elected by the free votes of the Spanish people in February, 1936; it secured an absolute majority of 63 seats over its opponents.
The head of the Government is President Azana, a Liberal Republican, and there is not a single Socialist or Communist in the Government.
The Government was no sooner elected than the Militarists and Fascists, refusing to accept the democratic verdict of the people, began to plot an armed rising.
They were determined to prevent the new Government from bringing justice and order to a country where military reaction, social injustice, and economic misery prevailed.
The armed revolt began on July 18 with the Officers of the Army in Morocco, and spread throughout the garrison towns. The Officers carried many of the men with them. The men of the Navy stood by the Government and imprisoned the Officers who were on the side of the rebels.
In this struggle against the rebels, the workers of Spain, irrespective of Party, have willingly taken up arms in defence of Freedom and Democracy.
They are fighting to maintain representative Government, and their struggle is of vital significance to all men and women concerned with the triumph of Democracy over Fascism.