The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-04-27
Observations
Two Officials
Outside Borders
at Same Time
BY Charles p. Stewart

Spain. Francisco Gomez de Jordana
included an exceedingly peculiar
remark in his recent offer Of Ma
drid's good Offices toward the
restoration Of peace among the
worlds warning powers.
Count de Jordana, 10 be sure.
mentioned no particular country by
name, but he did take the trouble
TO emphasize the spanish judgment
that communism is threat
against which western Europe
should unite
Now, imagine, after such a re-
mark, what chance the man who
made il would stand in au attempt
TO mediate between the Axis and
the United Nations, with Commun.
istic Russia as one Of the latter,
Presumably the Count spoke for
Caudillo Francisco, SPANS dictator
That FL Caudillo thinks he could
make his country a major power
and solidify his own regime by get
ting in as paCifier OF the pending
conflict is clear.
Undoubtedly Franco WOULD add
greatly to his prominence II he sue
Ceeded at it, but it is hard TO under
stand how he hopes 10 make a good
start by antagoniziug the Soyiets
al the very outset.
OF course, there is the possibility
that Franco assigned to his foreign
minister the task Of initiating nego-
tiations and that the COUNT botchod
the job but If he is in his right
mind. II is difficult TO comprehend
the thoroughness Of It.
Had the Spanish offer been made
without Inclusion Of the jab at Com
munism it would have been perfect
~ understandable The impression
has been growing for some time
that Adolf Hitler foresees his finish
unless he can manage to end the
war by some sort OF a compromise.
While there is no likelihood that
Caudillo Franco could arrange one
for him. Ii is conceivable that he
would think OF Franco as suitable
stooge TO make the attempt. Yet
1t seems impossible that Adolf HIM
self is crazy enough to believe the
chances OF an appeal TO the rest OF
the United Nations would be i'm
proved by so gratuitous a thrust
toward Russia.
Caudillo Franco unqueStonably
has been worried increasingly by
the prolongation OF the war. Spain
is too nearly in the midst Of it.. II is
liable 10 be side-swiped any minute.
It's dictator, too. is obviously fear
full OF Communistic rampage when
the Allies finally win, assuming a
clean-cut victory. with the Russians
among the triumphant fighters.
For one thing, he has large CON-
munistic element at home extreme
radicals but not OF his type or
Fuehrer Hitler's or Duce Musso-
lini's. Rather they classify as dem
ocrats. though OF Tremendously
exaggerated pattern. He had a des.
perate struggle vanquishing them
when he gained control few years
ago. and surely is convinced that
they will tear loose again at the
first opportunity. such as would be
afforded by a Nazi-Fascist over.
throw accompanied by the complete
disorgsnization of his tolitarian
Spanish Falangists.
That Franco expressed more or
less Of this idea to Foreign Minister
de Jordana. 10 outlining TO the latter
bis plan for a negotiated peace,
with Madrid doing the negotiating.
is possible. And perhaps the Count
put it considerably too literally in
submitting his oyertures to the bel
ligerents
Incidentally, e Caudillo IS well
known 70 be decidedly anxious over
Latin Americas almost unanimous
sympathy with the anti.A&is demo
cracies
Spain Is very dependent. indeed.
sentimentally ard commercially.
upon the good will OF the inhsbit-
ants OF the New Worlds southlands
and Argentina is the only one OF
the % Of them that is not at least
pro-democratic, not 10 mention the
several which have declared ou..
right war against the AXIS And
even Argentina IS not AXisly over
dependable, IN view Of the direction
the war Is taking
Portugal, adjoining western
Spain. is as anti.Axis also as any
Of the other democracies.
Portugal Is not big enough to desl
formidably with the Spaniards, but
1t has a seaboard and some offsbore
islands that can be utilized most ad
vantageously by the larger democra.
cies and its discussions with their
Various capitals are on a highly
friendly basis.