Evening star., 1950-04-09

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1t is said officially that the
Spain and bringing that country
into the Western defense system
was only informally discussed.
American Defense Secretary
johnson is known to be strongly
in favor Of Incorporating Spain
into the Western defense system.
Like his military advisers he does
not care about the color of Gen.
Frances eyes or what crimes he
committed in the past. He be-
lieves firmly, together with all
other military experts of the
Atlantic pact nations. that Spain
is an important factor in the over
all military picture.
According to available informa-
ton, when the matter was taken
up at The Hague last week British
Defense Minister Emanuel Shin
we'll opposed the idea. His argu-
ment essentially was that the
Labor Party would commit polit-
ical suicide if it indorsed admis-
sion of Spain into the concert of
Western powers. The French gave
him lukewarm backing.
Montgomery's Views
Mr.. Shinwell did not express
himself as bluntly as that, how
ever. He is said to have pointed
out that political conditions in
Spain were such that the cause of
democracy would be seriously
damaged in Western countries if
frances country should be ac-
cepted as partner at this time.
The views of the British Defense
Minister are entirely different, of
course. from those of Field Mar
shal Viscount Montgomery. Brit
aims top military man, who at
present is supreme commander of
the Western European defense
forces-a nominal rather than an
actual title at the moment.
Lord Montgomery expressed
himself straight from the shoulder
when he visited Washington
months ago. Not only did he
emphasize the need to have air.
bases in Spain. but he actually
advocated Offering that country
full partnership in the defense of
the West and providing its armed
forces with war material not only
to bolster defense strategy but
also to create a Spanish ground
force.
The views of the British field
marshal have the complete in
dorsement of all military men in
Western Europe. including such
French leaders as Gen. Jean de
Lattre de Tassigny, who commands
the ground forces of the. Western
European Union.
Equipment Antiquated
Yet, because the Labor Party in
England is still under pressure
from some leftist biologists. who
would rather see an invasion of
Europe by Russians than give the
slightest support to SPAIN. the
British Defense Minister. appar-
entity with full approval of Prime
Minister Attlee. caused postpone
ment of the decision to incorpo-
rate Spain into the Western
European framework.
The domestic political situation
of one member of the Atlantic
pact is interfering with vital stra-
tegic necessities which are fully
recognized by the other partici-
pants in The Hague parley.
Neither the British politicians
nor some in other countries are
aware of the urgency of the mat
ter raised for more than year by
their military specialists. They
assume that since Spain is so
fanatically anti-Communist she
has no choice but to join the other
allies if war hits Europe once
more. This. of course, is correct,
But the defense of a country as
lacking in modern armament as
Spain cannot be built up at the
eleventh hour.
Since 1889 Spain has been cut
off from the rest of the world and
has not been able to buy any