Evening star., 1950-06-25


that the question Is not easy, since
Franco won q victory over the 10y
alists with the assistance Of the
italian Fascists and the Nazis and
the administration Is not willing
to ruffile the feeling Of those in
this country who remember that.
Still others who have seen the
President on this matter. it is re-
liably said. were told bluntly that
so long as the Spanish govern
ment does not change its CEN
turies-old policies and does not
permit the established Protestant
churches to care for the spiritual
needs of the $4,000 Protestants
and does not allow them to hold
public ceremonies the administra-
ton will continue to block any
kind Of assistance to Spain.
When some Senator's argued
that private worship according 10
any creed was guaranteed by
Spanish laws and that outward
restrictions on non Catholic
churches were not Frances doing
but dated back many centuries,
Mr.. Truman is said TO have an
swered that he was aware Of this.
But he added that 1t would be .
great feather In his cap II he
could coerce the present Spanish
government to change this an
cient policy and place all religious
denomination on q equal footing
with the state Catholic church.
How correctly the Presidents
words were interpreted is difficult
to say. But the fact remains that
the Export Import Bank is still
considering-some say unfavor-
ably-the Spanish governments
request for the 100000 flrst slice
of the loan.
The directors Of the bank say
that Spain Is poor risk" all
though the total amount involved
$50 million-represents a little
more than l per cent of a loan
made to Great Britain by the
United States government to per-
NIT the Labor government to put
into effect its now obviously
bankrupt statist policies.
The Export Import Bank nomi-
nally Is supposed to make nom
political loans. But 1t has the
authority to take some calculated
risks. This is best illustrated In
the cases of loans made to Tito's
Yugoslavia. a country which offers
far less political and economic
security than Spain, to say moth
ing of the fact that its dictator
never has recanted his Communist
beliefs and is an open enemy Of
our free enterprise system.
1t is in the White House rather
than in the State Department
that the bottleneck is found by
Senators and Representatives
who are interested in creating a
healthy political and economic
situation all over the world. in
keeping with the very policies the
administration has been advo-
eating for several years.
Military Viewpoint
This is illustrated in the speci-
fic requests Of the Joint Chiefs Of
Staff. the top French and British
military authorities and their
civilian superiors in America and
In France that Spain be given a
limited measure Of assistance to
improve its defenses.
In discussing the defense poten-
tial Of Western Europe the mill
tary men have agreed unani-
mously that Spain would make
an ideal bridgehead for the Allies.
in the event of a Soviet attack on
the West. that is to say before
the military equipment now being
sent can be usefully employed by
the members Of the Atlantic pact.
Professional military men in
this country and in Western Eu-
rope agree that there can be no
risk from our point Of view irf
providing Spain with a limited
amount of war material and
equipment to reconstruct its naval
and air bases. We are willing and
desirous to send planes. tanks.
arms and ammunition to Tito.
who can still turn against us II
Moscow Is willing to forget his
past sins. But the administra-
ton is obstinately refusing to
help Spain, which presents no
risk whatsoever Of joining our
potential enemies.
Less than one year ago the
Spanish government attempted TO
the purchase Of a num-
ber of reconditioned motors for
the planes it is building In its
own factories. Involved was some
50 million, which Frances gov
ernment was willing TO pay in
cash.
Johnson Rcbuffed
The Joint Chiefs of STAFF re-
ported favorably on the transac-
ton. Secretary johnson went TO
see President Truman personally
to urge him to order the State
and Commerce Departments to
issue the necessary licenses. But
so far nothing has happened. The
licenses were not issued and Mr..
johnson was met with stubborn
refusal by Mr.. Truman to do any
thing about it until Franco
changed his policy toward nom
Catholics in Spain.
Somebody in his immediate
circle is misinforming the Pres
ldent about religious conditions
N Spain. The matter was de-
oated at length last week in Con-
gress by number OF Represent
atives. who protested against
obstruction to help for
hat country, which Is regarded
As essential In the Western de-