Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1945-08-01
Franco Squirms

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With Hitler out of the picture and Mussolini
pistoled and swung by the heels by those he SC
long oppressed, Francisco Franco, dictator of
Spain, is scratching around for new friends.
Recently the pudgy little man announced that
Spain was in the preparatory period for return Of
the monarchy.
1t is palpaby a move by Franco to him
self and his regime from the gathering storm
which soon will be flashing about his troubled die
tatorship.
How the murderous, treacherous double-deal-
ing Franco could be trustworthy in any trans
action could best be explained probably, by our
own Legs Diamond, were he alive. But just
the same by vile and the application of hidden
pressures, he has been treated by others with ar
amount of dignity to which his record by nc
means entitled him.
For example, the palsied treatment accorded
the Spanish dictator by our own State Depart
ment is one of the unexplained mysteries of the
times. Throughout our involvement in the Euro
pean war it was known to our officials that
Franco at all times giving open aid to Ger
many and Italy, enemies
This kid glove relationship was not dictated in
any great measure, by military or economic neces-
sity After the conquest Of Africa COM
pleted, there not even the excuse that Spain
had to be appeased in order to secure Frances
cooperation in keeping Gibraltar out of Ger
many's hands. Yet to the end of the European
war; and largely to this day, our State Depart
ment continues to grasp the Spanish dictators
blood-dripping hands in international fellowship.
When, at the San Francisco Security Con-
ference, sister American republics to the
South proposed declaration barring from men,
bership in the United Nations any government
which came into being with the military aid OF
the Axis powers, Assistant Secretary of State
James C. Dunn opposed the move behind the
scenes but the declaration received unanimous
approval, nevertheless.
This leaves the Franco regime out on limb,
since it is known to the world that German and
Italian troops placed him in the dictators seat
and kept him there until Hitler and Mussolinl
themselves were removed from the international
scene.
Now Franco is on his own, and he turns to
restoration of the monarchy the only means
of saving his office perhaps even his life.
Back of Frances amazingly tenacious hold in
Spain, superior in its historic and lasting power
to all fleeing political considerations of the mo-
ment, is the long arm of Rome.
The Catholic Church is worldwide in its re-
ligous domination, and cannot be blamed for
mingling in temporal politics a necessary activ
ity in maintaining its spiritual rule and its in
tricate church organization. In the of our
State Departments beneficent attitude toward
Franco, the influence of the church probably has
been paramount.
1t is quite proper for all churches Protestant.
Catholic and Jewish, to take part in politics.
ard
nomic well-being and the latter may be secured
only by political means.
The Catholic Church - which, in America.
courageousy fought for and faithfully supports
the democratic principle in government-might
consider the thought that similar attitude to-
ward troubled Spain would ultimately, bring the
church there to the same state of prosperity and