Diplomacy and Strategy of Survival

An analysis of Britain''s diplomatic efforts to preserve the non-belligerency of Franco''s Spain during the period from late 1940 to the end of 1941. Making extensive use of recently available British and Spanish documentary records Dr Smyth explains how Britain''s uphill struggle to secure Spanish non-belligerency had been rewarded with success by December 1940. Ironically British policy-makers were unaware of the earl) success of their efforts so they remained alert throughout 194041 to the danger of sudden Spanish support for a German move across their territory to Gibraltar. The conclusion notes how continuing Spanish neutrality helped the British endure ''their finest hour'' and the Franco regime to survive the destruction of its former Fascist patrons.