Evening star., 1942-11-19
Spain Considers

SpuIn NOnSIOeTS
Nowhere has the astounding trans
formation in North Africa produced
more intense repercussions than in
Spain. What is officially described
as a partial mobilization" of the
Spanish, land, sea and air forces is
merely the outward manifestation of
the intense pre-occupation with
which the Franco government con-
fronts the course of events, and of
the rival diplomatic pressures to
which it is being subjected.
Spain is inevitably concerned with
what goes on in the great northwest
ern bulge of the African continent
that lies just across the narrow
Straits of Gibraltar. There lie the
last remnants of her once vast colon
ial empire. Directly opposite Gibral-
tar, Britains historic base guarding
the entrance to the Mediterranean,
is the strip of territory known as
Spanish Morocco, enlarged by Spain's
wartime occupation of the neutral
lied city of Tangier. Down the At
lantic coast of North Africa is an
extensive tract known as the Rio de
Orc, in itself barren desert despite
it's alluring name, yet forming a
continental buffer to the Spanish
archipelago of the Canary Islands
which lie offshore Much farther to
the SouthWard, in the equatorial bend
of Africa called the Gulf of Guinea,
are the mainland colony of Rio NUM-
and the nearby island of Fernando
Pc. These colonial possessions are of
strategic significance and have some
economic value. They are especially
dear to the Franco regime, pledged
as it is to revival of Spanish power
and dignity in the world.
There can be no question that, be-
fore the war, Franco Spain was
closely affiliated with the Berlin
Rome Axis, which had so effectively
assisted in the victory over the Re-
publicans in the Civil War that ended
formally only a few months before
the greater European conflict broke
out. This pro Axis trend was
strengthened by the Axis victories
which eliminated in the collapse of
France and the arrival of German
troops on the Franco-Spanish border.
The Franco regime was realistically
prepared to play the tempting role
in Hitler's projected new order"
that was suggested by Berlin-once
that new order was established.
Yet, precisely because of it's pre-
occupation with Spanish self-inter-
est, the Franco government main
tanned its neutrality. The political
shake-up of a few months ago,
whereby Frances brother = in law,
Serrano Suner, was deprived of his
authority, eliminated the extreme
pro-Axis elements and kept the gov
ernment on an even keel.
Spains neutrality has been pre-
served by domestic as we'll as by ex-
ternal considerations. The devas-
tation of the civil war has never been
repaired and the deep political
wounds have not yet been healed.
Spain is in no condition to engage
effectively in the world struggle.
Undoubtedly, President Roosevelt's
assurance that the United Nations
int fo &ha infn0rifv, 4f
Spain and it's colonial possessions was
hailed with relief in Madrid. If the
Franco regime resisted Axis bland
ishments at the height of Axis power,
there is scant reason for it to aban-
don its neutrality now that Axis
prospects have become so dubious.
The one question is whether Spain
is able or willing to resist whole
heartedly Axis aggression such as an
occupation of the Balearic Islands,
the highly strategic group in the
western Mediterranean which Italy
used clandestinely during the civil
war. Less likely, but not impossible,
is desperate German stroke through
Spain at Gibraltar and the Straits.
Yet the rapid collapse Of Vichy au-
thority in French North Africa rem
ders such a gamble more and more
improbable. The presence of Ger
man armies on Spanish territory
would be bitterly resented by a large
part of the Spanish people and might
make Spain a battle-ground once
more. With so much to lose and so
little to gain, Spanish neutrality is
logically indicated.