FRANCO SPEAKS TO AMERICA

Chronicle (Levin), 17 February 1947, Page 2

FRANCO SPEAKS TO AMERICA

U.S. VICTIM OF YIOLENT PROPAGANDA Received Sunday, 7.30 p.m. NEW YORK, Feb. 15. i Franco, in an interview Avith the I North Anierican newspaper Alliance, i said United .States was the victim of violent propaganda against Spain and i its Governnient, and reiterated denials | that Spain had aided Germany with ! vital materials during the ivar/ Franco said America had always 1 championed respect of sovereigntv and independenee of other nations yet it. i.veided now to other nations interested iu "fomenting violent disturbances in jour country in an efi'ort to transforni us , into another Polantl or Yugoslavia. " Discussing his reginie Franco said: "For the eight years since the end of our war of liberation we ha\e been working incessantly to serve Spain. : We do not govern for any group but for all Spaniards. I dare to affirm that Spain today is better off in more respect. s than any other Kuropean country. Although you may be sceptical you can observe for yourself that the Spanish [leople enjoy many more liberties tluin the majority of the peoples of neutral and Eastern Europe. The only liiuitations of iiberty in Spain are ' those necessary to maintain order. We cannot forget that disorder does away with liberties. The diftieulties found i:i i Spain todav are 110 different from those t oudured bv many peoples. It takes | many years to recuperate from the de i struction of war. We have not been I aided from outside in our economic re ! covorv. Spain is not a rieli country. I It has been undeveloped during tlie lasL j 50 years because of internal political I struggles. " Moreover, the Communists took away not only the Spanish State 's gold but manv ' individual possessions j Even so, we have complied with all ' international obligations as no other 1 country in similar circumstances has. ' Franco said that Italians ,and Gei j nians who fought in tlie Spanish civi. j war were volunteers but that the Sovie : Ambassador and Soviet stalf oiticer directed the Republican Governnient - war- effort. " Communist propaganda claiins w. I sold our country 's sovereigntv becaus. we received German and ltalian aid yet when the World War started Spain ' deelared itself neutral at a time when Spanish collaboration was judged indispensable in Berlin and Rome, " he said j ' ' AYith nine German divisions 011 ou j borders we had to be careful but you j the mightiest power on earth, continue. selling to Japan despite the fact sli ; was preparing war against you. Yu. i shipped to the Japanese essential wa | materials, minerals and oils until shori ; ly bet'ore Feai'i Harbour, yet you de | feiuled and helped invaded China'. causes, No doubt it was a diplomati 1 move to gain time, although 7!)LKT miit- : neparated ,vou from .iapan. A powert'u j German armv was camped on our bor jders yet, because Spain ■ did the sam ! thing as you did, this was branded a aliject submission to the Germans an. ' eonclusive evidence of pronazism an. . Fascisiu. Is this not paradoxical? "Much is said about innumerabh political prisoners in Spain. We ea , assure you they don't exist. You have heard mention of eoncentration camps I Ask the Spanish Republicans iu Ame'ica and France to give you their loca tions, then go to see them. You can g >' vvherever ■ you wish without interfnr ence, accompanied by any Anierican who speaks Spanish. The number oi , Bo-called political prisoners in Spain is 'a drop in the bucket compared with thv imprisoned and missiug in practically ; every country of Europe. Yet noboch I in America asks that diplomatic rela { tions be severed with those respon 1 sible. "