Help for Spain! (circular)

              FÉDÉRATION SYNDICALE INTERNATIONALE 
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS 
INTERNATIONALER GEWERKSCHAFTSBUND
9, AVENUE D'ORSAY, PARIS VIIe
ADRESSE TÉLÉGRAPHIQUE: 
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS:  INTERFED. PARIS
TELEGRAMMADRESSE:  
TÉLÉPHONE: INVALIDES 45-88
Sch/H/G.   Fond int. Sol. 36.
5th August, 1936. 
To Affiliated and Sympathising National Centres. 
To International Trade Secretariats.
Dear Comrades, 
HELP FOR SPAIN!
The resolution unanimously adopted by the joint meeting of the IFTU and LSI held in Brussels on the 28th July pointed out that "the Fascist States themselves, the Fascist parties in every country are bringing efficient help to the Spanish rebels in their criminal enterprise against their country.    This alone would suffice to enforce upon us our duty of international solidarity towards our Spanish brethren to help them in a concrete, material and immediate form".
Although we are convinced that, up till now, no material of war has been sent to the Spanish rebels from countries where there are free Trade Unions, we would urge affiliated and friendly organisations to keep particularly on the alert, in view of the fact that the Fascist States and Parties will do all they can not only to give direct help to the rebels but also to order or obtain material of war indirectly from other countries, and to transport it across other countries.
We would therefore request you, in conjunction with all other democratic forces, to bring pressure to bear on your Government and to use all the means at your command to get any manoeuvres of this nature revealed and frustrated.    In the interests of international supervision, we should also be grateful if you would let us have at once all information of value.   This includes the reports of pro-Fascist papers and news agencies, which are trying by publicity methods to influence the war in favour of the rebels, and which must therefore be investigated, and corrected where necessary.
In this connection, we would again refer in particular to that part of the Brussels resolution which states that the IFTU and the LSI "stand wholeheartedly at the side of the Spanish workers and peasants in their heroic struggle for the Republic and Democracy". In this field, the Trade Unions have a special duty, that of giving that immediate material assistance which is of cardinal importance.   In the provision of this assistance, it cannot be too strongly emphasised to the public and to the governments that there is in Spain a Government which should be supported, a Government which was constitutionally elected and which is defending a Constitution given to the nation by the people themselves.   Aid of all kinds must be as rapid and concrete as possible! Financial aid has already been received from numerous countries - 140,000 Belgian francs from Belgium, 125,000 French francs from France, £1,500 from Great Britain, 25,000 Norwegian kronor from Norway, 55,000 Swedich [Swedish] kronor from Sweden and $ 5,000 from the United States.
(Remittances to the "International Solidarity Fund (Aid for Spain)" should be made either direct or through the National Trade Union Centre or Labour Party of the country concerned to: Account No. 40285 of the International Federation of Trade Unions, Credit Lyonnais, 2 bis avenue Bosquet, Paris 7e.)