Franco Must First Mend His Ways

Chronicle (Levin), 3 April 1948, Page 5

Franco Must First Mend His Ways

— Reuter,

(N.Z.P.A.

Coyyright)

Received Fridav, / p.m. LONDON, April L The British Government's offieial view regarding assistance for Spain ir. the European recovery programme w-as clearly defined in the H'ouse of Com1110ns on Felfruary when the Minister of State, 5Ir. .Hector MeNeil, said: ■'Britain adheres to the pojicy of not admitting Spain to any discussions on Western Europe or the Marsliall F.lan so long as the totalitarian regime con tinues in power in that country. " Offi cial British comment at the momenl i> restricted to reiteration of this view. British press comment, however, is less guarded. The Glasgow Herald describes the decision of the Fnited' States House of Representatives as being due to ' ' muddled thinking and anti-Oonimunist hvsteria. " ' The Daily Ilerald says bluntly: " Spain, under Franco,' cannot lie brought into the organisatlon. That is clear. The News Chronicle describes tlie comment of the Leader Of the Fnited Dtates House of Representatives. who said that "the move to include Hpain was " bad politics," as "a masterpiecc of under-statement." The Brussels Bocialist paper Le Peuple says: ''The Ameripan Gongress is free to make gifts to whom it likes„ but it cannot force 1(5 Kuropean Gov ernments to collaborate with a Government whieh is condeinned by ali tlie united nations." The Oslo Liberal paper Dagbladet described the Anierican decision a-> "shocking. " The nioderate Italian Bocialist Party,. led by Dignor Daragat, has cabled to tlie Anierican laliour unions protestmg against the t.ecision, wliich it says has ' ' proloundly disturbed Italian opinion. " Military Views Diff'er. s Anierican correspondents of British newspapers report that t-he decision oi tlie llouse of lfepresentatives is being .urongly backed by Anierican military leaders, on the grounds that Dpain is too- strategically important to be omitted. They urge that Dpaiu's commanding position at the gatewav to the ilediterrancan is more important than her ideology. Franco, tsays the correspondent, is cifrefully retraining from making any moves wliich can be interpreted atu'oad as propitiatory. Oliicially, Dpain has urgent economic reasons for .lesirmg to jom the Western Furopean bloc, but is masking her eagerness by a show of self-righteous Uignity. J-ranco plainly thinks that if he wail.long enough, strategic considerations will eompel the Western Powers to uccept liini. British correspondents in Madrid agree that there is little iinmedia'te [irospect of any modilication iii the present Dpauish regime. O11 the. •ontrary, ihe revulsion _ against Oom munism in other parts of Europe" ha.undoubtedfy strenglltencd TTanco's liand.