Spain and N.A.T.O.

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28258, 22 April 1957, Page 10

Spain and N.A.T.O.

The clearest signal that the post-war political ostracism of Spain had ended came when Spain was admitted to the United Nations in December, 1955. An international boycott that expressed disapproval of General Franco and his Falangist regime had lost force over the years. Had it succeeded. General Franco would have fallen; instead, he survived, and thereby added something to his prestige at home. At present he stands as head of a State which is strategically most important to the Atlantic community, and one which has important links with Africa and the Arab countries. Deference to Spain’s status is paid by good-will visits of warships (including British warships) to Spanish ports, by exchanges of visits between Spanish and Arab dignitaries, and by economic and military agreements with the United States. But dislike of the Spanish regime persists in democratic countries and it has been strong enough to block moves to put Spain on an equal footing with its neighbours and with the other nations of Western Europe. In particular, Spain has not been invited to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. But though not a member of N.A.T.0., Spain is closely linked with it already, through its treaty with Portugal and its defence agreement with the United States, just as Jugoslavia is linked through alliance with N.A.T.O.’s Balkan members, Greece and Turkey. A new move to formalise Spain’s relationships with

N.A.T.O. is now afoot. Recently, the American House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution saying it was “ the sense of the Congress “ of the United States ” that the State Department should “ continue to use its good offices “ towards the end of achieving “ participation by Spain in the “North Atlantic Treaty and as “ a member of the North “ Atlantic Treaty Organisation”. A similar resolution is to be introduced in the Senate, where it is said to be assured of a quick passage. The State Department approves the resolution and American embassies in N.A.T.O. countries have instructions to use suitable occasions to explain why the United States believes Spanish membership would bring a valuable contribution to the Atlantic alliance. But the State Department is aware that its own sympathy and congressional resolutions will not overcome all Western misgivings about Spain as an ally. Spain has the assured support of Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, as well as of the United States; the French and British Governments are said to take a “tolerant” view. Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, and Luxemburg are said to object to Spain’s admission to the Atlantic alliance. Of course, it is unrealistic to object to Spain’s formal association with the Western alliance when the four United States air bases in Spain and the Cadiz naval base have long been fundamental factors in N.A.T.O. planning. But prejudice and realism were never happy bedfellows.