Evening star., 1951-07-19
Our Allies Disopprove

The announcement that Admiral Sherman
has been discussing the possibility of enlisting
Spanish aid in the defense of Europe has brought
sharp protests from London, Paris and other
Western European sources, This is understand
able.
The London objection seems to be largely
political in nature. The British Socialists, es-
peclally the younger Socialists heartily dislike
Spain's Generalissimo Franco and all that he
stands for. Those who constitute the British
government may personally share this sentiment,
and in any event they probably have to protest
for domestic political reasons
In Paris the same theological antipathy pre-
walls. If anything, it is more intense Further
more, good many Frenchmen have the feeling
that an American military arrangement with
Spain might foreshadow withdrawal behind
the Pyrenees in event of Russian attack, leav-
ing the rest of the continent under Soviet oc-
cupation
Over and above all of this, there is perhaps
the fear among many Europeans that any Amer
ican military aid which might go to Franco would
be subtracted from the total of assistance which
otherwise would go to them American weapons
for Europe have been few in number and slow
In arriving So it is not surprising that those
nations which have subscribed to the North
Atlantic Pact should look askance at the prospect
OF any diversion of military aid to Spain.
The fact that it is easy to understand the
sentiments which have produced the protests,
however, does not mean that the protests are
valid. To the extent that they rest on political
or theological differences, they overlook the real
objective. That objective is to organize the
strongest possible resistance in western Europe
to Russian attack or to the threat of such
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this end, and the overwhelming military opinion
is that she can, then frances politics. the nature
of his regime, and his past become of secondary
Importance. The question is not whether the
Socialists approve or disapprove of Franco, but
whether Franco can and will add to the sum of
the military power that General Eisenhower is
trying to organize in the West. And while on
this point 1t is worth recalling that the contri-
buttons of the protesting countries have not been
impressive. The Netherlands and Belgium have
done virtually nothing. France has done very
little. The British are believed to be abreast of
the schedule. but they must realize that over
all progress toward the goal has been painfully
SLOW and they must also realize that nothing
could be worse than to fail to organize enough
strength to deter the Russians or to turn them
back If they should attack.
The argument that aid to Franco might
mean less assistance for the NATO countries, If
true, would have substance. But there is no
reason to believe that it is true. Secretary
Acheson has stated that the pact nations have
clear priority, and when our own military
production hits its stride the chances are that
instead of too little equipment, there will be
enough and more than enough for the troops
that our Allies will have raised and organized
The third point has to do with the physcho-
logical consequences of an agreement with
Franco. No doubt many Frenchmen and others
would interpret such an agreement as the first
step in plan to fall back behind the rugged
Pyrenees If Russian invasion could not be
halted in Germany or France. But facts are
facts, and if such an invasion could not be
stopped, France and the other countries would
be doomed to Russian occupation in any event
Certainly no one would benefit if the Allied army
should be destroyed or driven into some tiny
beachhead. From the military point of view it is
better to keep open line of retreat to secure
or relatively secure base, and it is possible that
Spain might serve such purpose. It is more
realistic, however, to look upon Spain as a source
OF added strength, rather than as a kind of
escape hatch for beaten army As Mr.. Acheson
has said, military authorities are in general
agreement that Spain Is of strategic Importance
to the general defense of Western Europe" If
that Is correct, then we should do what we can
to develop the Spanish military potential, letting
the protests fall where they may.