Report : Joint meeting - 21 August 1936

              Private 
JOINT MEETING - L.S.I. AND I.F.T.U.
PARIS, FRIDAY 21st AUGUST, 1936.
10.30 A.M. 
(Sir Walter Citrine in the Chair) 
Present:
De Brouckere; Adler; Gillies; Zeromsky [Zyromsky]; Bracke; Delvigne  (Belgium); Mertens; Schevenels; Jouhaux.
SITUATION IN SPAIN.
De Brouckere said he had only visited Madrid but his impression was that the situation was calm; the factories were working and the food supply was good. Within the organisations, co-operation was going with the Communists but there was undoubtedly a feeling of danger concerning the anarchists.    He had talked with Prieto - who considered that if they were left to themselves without outside assistance either way, the Government would prevail.     Portugal was definitely hostile and the rebels were receiving assistance from Italy and Germany.     The first enemy was Fascism but public enemy No. 2 was anarchism.     In the beginning each party set up its own militia and Prieto was now making every effort to bring them together. If he had enough time he could settle this. There was an agreement between the centre of the Socialist Party and Communist Party, but not between Caballero and the Communists.   They were very disturbed about the neutral policy of the French Government although they understood it was a delicate situation.
Letter read from Nenni.     He replied that the situation of the Socialist Party was tragic.    On one side there was the fascists and on the other the anarchists The spirit of the militia was excellent but they had no military leader.   The Socialist leader, Prieto, was quite strong and he was the principal inspiration of resistance.
Jouhaux said he went to Barcelona and Madrid.   He was very optimistic about the general situation in Catalonia as also were the Ministers with whom he spoke. The situation in Barcelona seemed to be entirely