Evening star., 1949-11-20


full of holes as a sponge. This. at
least is the almost unanimous
view of specialists who have been
studying European strategy in
the last few months.
Western Europe, from the mill
tary point of view, is an indivisi-
BILE strategic entity. If one portion
of the fortress" is neglected, the
whole chain will collapse. While
little Portugal and Luxembourg
have been included in our plans
and are receiving some support
Spain, with its 25,000,000 people
and strong natural Notifications
is being left out of the overall
plan.
The reason is theological rather
than strategic. We are helping
assumedly-only those countries
which have established demo-
cratic governments. This is, OF
course, an error. To refuse the
means for military preparation to
Spain, because Gen. Franco is still
at the head of the government, is
like refusing to defend Nebraska
and the Dakotas because they are
stanch Republicans.
Spain Lacks Weapons
The National Defense Establish.
ment, the National Security Coun-
Gil and every general or admiral
in a responsible position is eager
to have this country included in
our overall strategic plans.
This country has vast manpow-
er, which totally lacks modern
weapons; it has the most impor-
tant location for airfields, but no
anti-aircraft. radar or planes. The
Spaniards are anxious to partic1-
pate in defense of Europe against
Russia, not because of any fond
ness for the Western democracies'
but because they realize that
communism will be far more ruth
less toward the peoples of Spain
than any other European people
Because of the economic and
financial boycott by the United
States, Spain is on the verge OF
bankruptcy. Its factories are run
down and it's transportation Is
unsafe. New food restrictions
also are being imposed now be-
cause Of the crop failure this year
II small quantity of corn anc
wheat has been obtained from
the United States and the Madrie
government had to pay about
1000, 900 in gold for it. Neither
long nor short credits were OBJ.
tainable..
A country in such a condition
cannot easily prepare itself tc
fight an invader. All that the
present attrition can achieve is
to foster eventually-when the
bellies become really empty and
the factories shut their doors
another revolution which will GER
tainly not play into the hands Of
the governments which desire re-
Mobilization of Europe.
Whole Nation Punished
The White House and the State
Department resent Gen. Frances
dictatorial regime. AS a conse-
quence they have decided to pun
ish not only Franco but the entire
Spanish nation, which refuses tt
force out its dictator. The inclu-
sion of Spain in our strategic
plans leaves our top policy-makers
cold. So long as Spain does moi
have democratic elections; so lone
as Spain retains at its head Gen
eralissimo Franco, and so long a!
the Is to Is thousand Protestant!
who live in this country. wher'
the Catholic church is the stat'
religion. are not given full reli'
|gious freedom, no assistance of an!
kind can be given Spain. Anc
those who are responsible fol
preparation of defense against tht
U. S. s. r. can go on speaking II
vain.
There is no question that Gen
Franco is a dictator. But during
the 10 years that he has beer
chief OF state, he has greatly soft.
ened the rules under which the
Spanish people live. To casua.
observers there is no more indi-
cation that there is a dictatorship
here than many Western coun-
tries.
There is no passport check or
the trains and there is no serious
scrutiny Of passports at the from
tier points. AS in the rest OF Eu-
rope-and this includes old estab-
lished democracies such as Brit
ain and France-the arrival OF 9
foreigner must be reported to the
police BY q hotel porter or q
boarding house owner. Spanish
papers publish most Of the world
news but refrain from criticizine
the administration. They would
not be censored in such an even
tuality but would find it impossi-
BILE to get newsprint when they
needed 1t next time.
Forums in Cafes
Criticism of Gen. Franco and
his cabinet In the cafes-of which
there are hundreds in every city
and which form the political
forum Of Spain-is frequent and
not interfered with. Mass poll
tical gatherings, however. are not
allowed unless they have q special
permit from the local police. No
such permit Is ever available
when 1t is suspected that open
criticism will be heard by thou
sands Of people.
Fhe economic life of the individ-
ual is less government ontrolled,
however. than In Britain. The
Spaniard can spend his money