"the fact that, had Hitler been challenged "rather than befriended when Germany was not the threat it became, his international plans would have been nipped in the bud" - Jom

No argument at all from me on that Jom, you are perfectly right. Winton Churchill argued for it. It required someone like George W. Bush to carry it through because that is precisely what he did with regard to Iraq and Saddam Hussein.

The bit I do not get is this:

"he describes those who did have a go as traitors"

Have a go at what? those people, private citizens, who travelled to Spain to fight for the republican side were fighting for "socialism", "communism" whatever against the "fascists" - as such they were fighting General Franco NOT Hitler and whatever they did in Spain would have absolutely no effect whatsoever on the Fascist regimes in other countries to state that they would is totally ridiculous.

The British Government has always discouraged private citizens from the UK travelling abroad to fight in other people's wars.