them from that tendentious and hostile atmosphere which is 
     incompatible with sincere friendship in the days to com
 
                                                            
 
 
The present war has completely altered old ideas of strategy 
      and of the relative strengths of the various Powers; everything 
      has grown in size, and if the nations want to avoid unpleasant 
      surprises, they must throw overboard ancient prejudices and strengthen 
                  their continental solidarity.             
 
                                                            
 
 
And just as it would be vain to expect that Spain should now 
      act against her convictions and take advantage of other nations' 
      misfortunes, thus failing in the principles of honor and chivalry 
      that have prevailed throughout her history and have given it 
      the stamp of nobility - principles that are summed up in the 
      typical Spanish saying - "Nobleza obliga"- so, on the 
      other hand, it would be only fitting that we should strive to 
      establish closer relations and make possible common actions in 
                           the future.                      
 
      It is worth emphasizing that Spain is a country of strategic 
      importance, and that the Spanish people are sound, virile and 
      chivalrous; that she has given proof of her spiritual reserves 
      and her resources of courage and energy; that she has the will 
      to exist, without harboring base ambitions, loves peace and knows 
      how to maintain it; that she believes it to be in her own interest 
      and in that of Great Britain that they should establish mutual 
      understanding, for she appreciates the value of British friendship 
      while fully conscious of the value of her own; that she considers 
      this understanding and future friendship to be possible, but 
      believes, nevertheless, that it could not be effective or lasting 
      if confined to a mere enunciation in lifeless words, without 
      a complete change in the premises of our relations, if there 
      is a lack of sincerity, of good faith or of the firm determination 
      to achieve that mutual understanding; it could not endure if, 
      because of old jealousies and the old spirit of domination arousing 
      suspicion of t %he increasing greatness of the friend and partner, 
      if we could not remove, at whatever sacrifice, the differences 
      that divide us.