Evening star., 1945-02-04
Franco Strong
Keeps Firm Grip Despite
Anti.Fascists
Bv Carl d. Soyesi

By Carl d. S0resi
Spanish anti-Fascists are waging a
skillful war of nerves against Generals
simo Franco, but the dictator seems cer-
tain to remain in power at least until
Germany is defeated.
Conversations with high officials here,
plus a study of recent reports, indicate
three main reasons for his present
strong position:
/. Britain and the United States for
the moment find Franco increasingly
useful.
2. The long-open sore of political dis
unity among Spanish republicans abroad
has so far shown scant sign of healing.
3. Spaniards at home are deeply di-
vided on what kind of government might
replace Franco.
On the first point Anglo American Of
ficials. who must place the enormous
needs of the Allied war machine above
everything else, have jumped at the op-
portunity to alleviate the present tight
shipping situation and overloaded pro-
duction capacity by using frances
merchant ships and industrial facilities.
Expect Trade Increase.
Whatever tough" policy may be
drawn up applicable to Franco at some
future time, official and embassy COM
mercial sources here have predicted an
increased trade Hrogram in 1945 over
the 1914 export sales to Spain. These
sales included:
Cotton-250, 900 bales, converted in
Spanish mills into 100000 towels for
the Allied forces, thousands" of army
blankets and shirts. This year has
started off with bang-up sale OF co.
500 bales, some Of which will continue
to be processed for Allied army needs
(part of the sale proviso) and some for
British and French civilian supply.
France has ordered more than 5000, 900
yards of Spanish textiles
Synthetic rubber - 500 tons for
processing and resale to British and
American commercial companies, with a
ceiling set in 1945 at 10000 tons.
Coal-80000 tons (mainly for indus
trial fueD from the United States alone.
British coal exports to Spain in 1914
were believed at least equal.
Gasoline and lubricating oil-50 900
barrels. on which the high surtax-
reminiscent of "preclusive buying" days
has been eliminated.
Farming machinery, light industrial
machinery and machine spare parts
Unlimited.
Spanish Ships Used.
In carrying raw materials from Britain
and the United States, as well as the
finished goods from Spain, Spanish ships
have been used throughout.
In addition, an initial ALLEGATION of
five Spanish ships per month has been
made to deliver Spanish goods to the
United States. These ships are then
"usefully" routed: For example, to Cuba
to load sugar for New Orleans, there to
load raw cotton for Spain.
Allied officials admit these actions
strengthen Frances hand considerably.
They not only create favorable CONNER
cial channels, which almost every Euro
pean government is now seeking; Franco
can put his people to work and mate
rally build the value of the peseta-
which in turn betters Spanish living
conditions.
With regard to Spanish republican
disunity: Two recent attempts to call q
meeting in Mexico OF the old Spanish
Republican Cortes Parliament) failed
because the exiled republicans are still
sharply divided.
Franco Keeps Tight Grip.
The third point in Frances present
strong position-diuded sentiments of
Spaniards at home-is further compl-
Gated by the tight grip Franco holds on
the Spaniards.
Reports from Spain indicate the ma
jority seems dissatisfied despite the fact
that Frances neutrality" has won q
goodly measure of economic benefits.
But the reports also indicate how
unlikely are any decisive actions against
Franco at this time. The Spaniards'
decisions-or lack Of them-spring from
two main considerations:
Neither the wounds nor the mem.
ories of the bloody civil war have been
forgotten. Thus an improving peace
under Franco Is believed better In the
long run than uncertainty and possible
cost Of life in installing a more popular
government.
This does not mean there is no va
riety Of political opinion in Spain. On
the contrary. Monarchist party can
be added to all the other political rep
resentations, including those In exile.
2-Franco has veteran army OF
Spanish and Moroccan professional"
sizable arsenal of the latest guns
planes and tanks; Gestapo-trained
corps Of secret police; . closely-kn
and loyal party, the Falange, and q
backing Of capitalists, industrialists
land owners and clergy. While bicker-
ing among themselves, these "are con-
| mitted TO Franco"
| distributed by AssociatsA P1sssD