The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-07-13
Observations
Spanish Turn
Sympathies to
Allied Cause
BY Charles p. stswar,

WASHINGTON AXIS press
realizes now that SPANS govern
ment has Popped entirely over TO
sympathy with the United Nations.
The Spanish people generally have
been, all along. frstrate democrats,
Or even farther 10 the leftward
5eneralissimo Francisco Franco,
Madrids Ell Caudillo", Spanish
Equivalent 10 Der Fuehrer" or III
ouce". started of, however. as
Falangist. SPANS equivalent to a
Nazi or a Fascist.
First indications OF his change in
policy arrived TO the accompani-
ment OF news that he is maneuver-
ing for a restoration of his coun.
try's former monarchy, under
Prince Juan OF Bourbon, third son
OF the late, and deposed, King Al
fonso, in exile at present in Swift
zerland.
a
ton as a democrat This seems
queer, in the case OF a descendant
of the ultra.royal Bourbon family.
Nevertheless, it is a fact that IN
former Of Generalissimo Frances
overtures, he promptly announced
that he would not consider them On
any basis that made him govern.
mentally inferior to FL Caudillo.
Maybe Juan simply had been
reading the signs OF the times Or
maybe he had learned a lesson
from his own fathers dethrone-
ment. Anyway, in response TO
hints from the previously pro-Axis
generalissimo. he took a distinctly
anti-Axis attitude.
And the point is that the general
issimo promptly fell for it,
Franco appears willing to accept
Juan on the latter's terms, in a
subordinate position.
This, naturally. makes the Axis
publicity managers hot under the
collar
And 1t is, indeed, a vicious lab at
them-not so much militarily, but
as an item OF morale, which figures
quite a lot for the immediate pres
emit.
II is like a split in the near-Axis
ranks, though not in the intimate
ones.
Spain, though, is a geographic
spot OF considerable material ad-
vantage in the present conflict.
II is nicely situated as the basis for
thrust into Axis territory
Through France) and into Axis
waters (by way Of the Mediter-
ranean).
Now. how did Caudillo Franco
happen TO get cold feet, as he did,
versus the Axis powers?
Well, in Spain itself popular
sentiment is, as said above, demo
cratic. The generalissmo squeaked
by with a narrow majority.
Franco thought Herr Hitler and
Signor Mussolini would win in a
walk. Adolf has not done it,
Benito has been a much worse fi7-
zie. Adolf is hated as a tyrant.
Benito is despised as an extremely
sour lemon
The conquered countries are all
In rebellion.
Next thing? Latin America
We have this side OF the world
sewed up. II includes Spanish
and Portugese-(if you so group
them) America.
Our New-Worldlings are virtual
ly all pro-United States.
OF course, Argentina has been
too neutral to suit Washington and
government OF other United Ma
tons.
Generally speaking, though. La
tin America has been too conspic-
uously anti-Axis not to have i'm
pressed a Spanish dictator like
Caudillo Franco. Obviously. he ar
rived finally at the conclusion that
his bread was buttered more on
the side OF the democracies than
that OF the totalitarians The
same idea might have occurred TO
Duce Mussolini. II he had thought
about it earlier, but FL Caudillo
was more deliberately judicious.
Franco has not yet had quite
the nerve to come out whole-heart
edly against the Nazis, but he has
come close enough to IL to promise
q complete switch democracy-ward
as soon as he is certain OF the wars
impending outcome.
Naturally, Fuehrer Hitler's
mouthpieces are giving him hadss.
The theme is that Adolf helped
HIM when Franco was hoving his
troubles with the Spanish repub-
lies: now he is as lukewarm as II
is imaginable toward the Axis At
that. II is not ingratitude. II is
self-interest Franco has decided
that the Axis is licked, and is anx-
ious TO get mas safely as he can
under cover.