Evening star., 1949-09-23
Mr.. Acheson's Remarks Cited
In Contrast With Our Spanish Policy

mr.. AcheSOn'S Remarks Cited
In Contrast With Our Spanish Policy
To the Editor Of The Star:
In his address at New York, on September
19, before the Pan American Society of the
United States, the Secretary of State de-
clared:
We maintain diplomatic relations with
other countries primarily because we are
all on the same planet and must do busi-
ness with each other. We do not establish
an embassy or legation in foreign country
to show approval of its government We
do so to have channel through which
to conduct essential governmental rela-
tions and to protect legitimate United
States interests. - Since recognition
Is not synonymous with approval, how
ever. our act of recognition need not nec-
essarily be understood as the forerunner
OF policy OF intimate cooperation with
the government concerned"
II the Secretary Of State will take the time
and trouble to read the initial communications
and letters Of credence Of the Government
OF the United States when according recog-
milton and establishing embassies and lega-
tions in foreign countries. he will md
few in which we have not uttered phrases
OF great confidence in the future behavior
OF the governments to which we were accred-
iting ENJOYS. and, to that extent, implying
approval OF those regimes. Certainly he
will discover no case where we accorded
recognition, set up representation, and ex-
plicitly disapproved Of the regime in question
The case of Spain at once comes to mind
When the National government of Spain
came into existence, the Government of the
United States formally recognized it as the
lawfully constituted government OF that
country. 1t sent succession of ambassadors
to Madrid. Later, in 1916, it left the post
of ambassador vacant. It did so because the
desperate effort of world communism to
mobilize ancient racial and sectarian
grudges against Spain had succeeded to the
extent OF producing strange compound of
pompousness and haglike vindictiveness in
q resolution adopted by the Assembly Of the
United Nations calling for the withdrawal of
all ENJOYS from Madrid.
Headless Mission Maintained.
Yet the United States continued to main
tain headless mission in Madrid, and a
number of consuls in Spanish commercial
centers. AS the Secretary Of State set forth
In the address quoted above, the Government
of the United States desired to maintain
"a channel through which to conduct gov
ernmental relations" and protect legitimate
United States interests" But 1t intended,
at the same time, to behave In as insulting
fashion toward the government Of Spain
as possible without risking the commercial
interests involved in the termination of all
diplomatic and consular relations. This
intention is evident in various express dec
larations of the present Secretary of State,
and in conduct Of the department In spe-
cific cases. And from time to time, Mr..
Truman, who, like General Franco, is head
of the state, head of the administrative
oI, of aay,f - tkA
military establishment, and head Of the
dominant political party. manifests q
petulant disinclination to consider Spain
eligible to inclusion within the family Of
nations. Nevertheless, inasmuch as I'VE
must do business with each other" since
I'VE are all on the same planet" neither
our Chief Magistrate nor his Secretary Of
State has carried disapproval Of the gov
ernment of Spain TO the extent of with.
drawing all diplomatic, consular and mill
tary personnel from Spanish territory.
Great states, mature and sure Of them
selves and their interests, do not resort to
the ignoble practice Of almost surreptitious
maintenance Of commercial relations with
regimes which they refuse to accept as
having as valid sanction as their own.
Only immature regimes, lacking a genuine
comprehension Of the nature Of international
TelatlOnS, luuulge III olSCIeo4IdUle olSpldyS
Of personal petulance and resentment while
holding on to some material interests in
volved.
The policy of the executive branch Of the
Government of the United States toward
the government of Spain, since l945, does
not reflect the wishes Of a majority Of the
people of the United States any more than It
serves their interests. Nor does it reflect the
views OF a majority OF the members OF the
Congress as to the proprieties and the in
erests involved.
The executive branch would not dare to
ask for affirmative approval Of its Spanish
policy since 1945 by either the Congress or
the Nation, with the above-quoted phrases
of the Secretary Of State as the criterion Of
its policy.
CONSTANTINE 4. MCGUIRE.