Evening star., 1951-07-17
Sherman Visit 10 Spain
Seen as Implying U. s.
|WiI| Ignore Protests
By c. Votes Mcdonnell
Associated Press Stoff Writer

Associated Press Stoff Writer
Admiral Forrest P. Sherman's
visit to Madrid probably indicates
an American desire to reach some
kind of military understanding
with Spain despite British and
French opposition.
Washington officials expressed
this view while refusing to disclose
the specific subject of the United
States Chief of Naval Operations
lengthy talk yesterday with Gen.
Ieralissimo Franco.
They noted that Admiral Sher-
man started his round OF high
level conferences in Madrid, before
going on to France, Italy and
Great Britain and before seeing
Gen. Eisenhower.
Bradley Would Welcome Spain.
The London Foreign Office
promptly disclosed that Britain
had advised the United States
against entering into any military
arrangements with Gen. Franco
American officials have been aware
Iof British and French opposition
ever since London and Paris were
sounded out months ago about a
possible United States interest in
bases and military understandings
with Spain.
American military leaders have
made no secret of their strategic
interest in Spain. Gen. Omar
Bradley, chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, told the House
Foreign Affairs Committee Friday
that from the military point of
view" he would personally like
to see Spain in the treaty organi-
zation.
Gen. Bradley added that you
cannot get a Frenchman or an
English military man to say what
I said"
Background of Opposition.
The British Labor governments
opposition to any military ar
rangement with. Franco Spain
stems from the active opposition
to Gen. Franco by Prime Minister
Attlee and other Labor leaders
during the Spanish Civil War. To
the ruling group in Britain, Gen.
Franco and his supporters are still
Fascists.
France shares this view, with
the added fear that any move to
bring Spain into the Atlantic
treaty orbit would influence
United States strategy toward the
possibility of abandoning France
in case of a Red onslaught, and
retiring into Spain behind the
natural barrier formed by the
Pyrennes mountains.
American military men see little
logic in excluding Spain from !
defense organization which would
depend on the Atlantic and the
Mediterranean both for its sea-
borne lifelines and for the pro-
lection of its flanks.
No United States military man
argues that Spain could now pro-
vide any great fighting power
But the Iberian peninsula does
offer locations for both air and
sea bases.
Meanwhile, some key Senators
urged American officials to ignore
British objections and speed
negotiations for air and naval
bases in Spain.
Chairman Connally Of the Sell
ate Foreign Relations Committee
said he for one believes it would
be highly desirable" for the
United States to obtain air and
naval bases there.
Great Britain should not In
tervene in this matter and should
not oppose" the Texas Senator
declared.
Senator Mccarthy, Republican
OF Wisconsin, one of the most Wig
orous critics of Truman admins
tration foreign policies, said:
1T would be useless to try to
defend Western Europe unless we
avail ourselves of the resources
Of Spain and of Western Ger
many"
Chairman Russell of the Senate
Armed Services Committee said
lit is in the interest not only of
the United States but it's friends
in Europe to acquire bases in
Spain and other areas Of Europe
Mcfarland Says We Need Help.
Senator Mcfarland, of Arizona
the Democratic leader. declared:
I'VE can't bring about peace by
ourselves. We have got to have
the help of all anti Communist
nations"
Senator Byrd. Democrat. Of Vir-
ginia, an Armed Services Commit
tee member, said Britain's protest
should be ignored.
Colleagues expect a group OF
Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee members now making q
tour Of European capitals to come
back with some strong recommen-
ldafi0nS for Yn0uns which MOULD