Evening star., 1942-09-05
Franco Consolidating
Government, Delaying
Declaration Of Policy
Spanish Border Sources
Soy Cautious Course Will
Follow Suner Removal
B. the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BERN, Switzerland. Sept. 5.-Re-
liable private information from the
Spanish border said today that Gen.
eralissimo Franco is consolidating
his government after ousting For
eign Minister Ramon Serrano Suner
under program designed to keep
Spain out of the war and is not
fastening to please Germany by a
clarifying statement of policy.
frances declaration of policy may
be delayed for perhaps three months,
it was said.
German comment on the govern
ment shake-up, in which their
stanchest friend was toppled from
the place second only to that of
Franco, still was practically nil.
German press dispatches yesterday
said Berlin was awaiting a Franco
pronouncement, an apparent hint at
a demand for an explanation.
Informants at the Spanish border,
who cannot be quoted by name, said
the new Franco regime was embark
ing on cautious course that may
involve the first concessions of con-
sequence to republican elements in
eclipse since the bloody civil war.
Suner Unpopular With People.
This highly reliable picture of the
Spanish situation under which Spain
appeared to be backing away from
definitiye Axis collaboration was
given:
l.. The Germans themselves want
peace and quiet in Spain. The Axis
is too involved on other fronts to
start new adventure with a coun-
try in impoverished economic and
uncertain military conditions. But
the Germans and Italians would like
Franco to say something indicating
he is going to remain a new order
man"
2. Franco would prefer to have
the cabinet changes passed off as
solely an internal alteration requir-
ing no strong sounding declarations.
3. Serrano Suner was pictured as
personally unpopular with the peo-
pie who refer to him as "Spain's
Laval" Politically ambitious, he
was said to have made recent over
lures to Prince Juan, claimant to
the Spanish throne, hoping to better
his position should the monarchy
be restored.
4. Serrano Suner's wnfall
marked victory for Jose Luis
Arrese, secretary of the Falange
Party, after year of rivalry. Ar
rese favored avoiding too close ties
with Germany and Italy and
preached Spain for the Spaniards. -
He represented the extreme leftist
wing of the party and may be a
factor in bridging the gap with
the old republicans, overthrown in
the civil war.
Army Gains Better Position.
s. A plan of restoring moderate
parliamentary regime can be fac
tor in assisting this rapprochement.
1t provides for abandoning the one
party system allowing members to be
elected by elements other than the
Falange party. Thus the way is
cleared for eventual, if slow, appear
ances of new elements in the gov
ernment. 't~ ttft
s. The Army gained a more in
fiuential position to the detriment of
the Falange. Gen. Carlos Asensio
Cabanillas, the new Minister of War
is said to be vaguely monarchist
but completely for the army and
though mot pro-party," not in &C
tual opposition to the Falange.
7. The new Foreign Minister, Gen
Count Francisco Gomez de Jordana
is primarily an army man and some
| what monarchist. He is described
as more or less cold to the Axis.
8. Prince Juan was described al
| not factor in the cabinet changes
| 1t is not clear whether he lost OF
gained influence. The most reliable
view was that there would be a six
month period of quiet before the
question of monarchy is discussed
seriously again.