Evening star., 1942-12-23
Iberiun Bloc

arrived at between the Spanish and
Portuguese governments is an i'm
portant event. After several davs of
conferences between General Count
Gomez de Jordana, the Spanish Min
lSter OF Foreign Affairs, and Doctor
OllVelra Salazar, who combines in
Portugal the premiership with the
cabinet portfolios for war and for
elgn policy, an "Iberian Bloc" has
been concluded. This was announced
by General Jordana at an official
luncheon given in his honor near
Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, where
the conferences had taken place.
The Spanish Foreign Minister en-
phaslzed the aims of this diplomatic
alignment as the maintenance of
Iberian neutrality and the strength
enlng of its influence in the world at
large. He likewise stressed the
theological bonds between the two
nations, which give life and warmth
to the 1berian bloc" So far as the
existing regimes are concerned, this
is undoubtedly true, and it is a mat
ter which should be clearly under
stood. In fact, the Portugal of
Salazar, though materially much
smaller and weaker than its Iberian
neighbor, is model for what General
Franco is seeking to do in Spain.
1t is sixteen years since the Por-
tuguese Republic, which arose on
the revolutionary overthrow of the
monarchy in 1911, collapsed in its
turn in welter Of corruption, in
efficiency and civil strife. The pro-
vlslonal government that succeeded
was at first military dictatorship,
but the dictator, General Carmona,
realized the sterility Of such a regime
and wished to evolve something more
durable and constructive in it's place.
This he accomplished by the talents
OF an extraordinary parsonage, Doc
tor Oliveira Salazar, a university
professor and Portugals leading
economist. In few years, Salazar
made Portugal orderly, efficient and
solvent. In 1888 these gains were
regularized in a new constitution
which set forth the principles of
what was called the Estado Novo or
New State"
Under this regime, Portugal be-
comes an authoritarian republic on
a cooperative basis. This is frankly
Fascist in character. Only one po-
litical party is tolerated, the So
called National Union. Partisan
politics are abolished, emphasis be-
ing laid on economic issues. Doctor
Salazar not only considers the Por-
tuguese people unfit for parliament
ary government, but also believes
that the entire liberal democratic
system of our modern world has had
its day. This Is precisely the atti-
tude of General Franco, as voiced in
his recent speech, which was merely
a restatement Of pronouncements
made by him and his colleagues
lildllS DNAolS.
However, this does not mean that
either the Spain of Franco or the
Portugal of Salazar are mere copies
of Fascist Italy or Nazi Germany.
Both Iberian regimes are strongly
clerical and conservative in tone.
They are likewise ardently national
istic, putting Spanish and Portu-
guese interests ahead Of everything
else. Now Portugal especially with
its lack of military power and its
vast colonial empire, has everything
to lose and little to gain by becoming
embroiled in the present world
struggle. So, the closer Spain is knit
with Portugal, the stronger will be
the bias towards the maintenance of
! neutrality. It is difficult to visualize
Doctor Salazar voluntarily asserting
to swinging the Iberian bloc into the
war. The spectacle of what has hap
pened to France and its colonial en-
pire is strong deterrent If, there
fore, the Iberian entente is reality
and not a mere form Of words, it's
existence would seem to be an assur-
ance that the neutrality Of both
countries will be fostered by the
| leaders who guide their destines.