Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-19
Spain Strengthens Position

There is a sound basic premise underlying
the joint-front agreement reached between Spain
and Portugal. This premise is that the Iberian
Peninsula is a single and indivisible strategic
bloc, the security of which can most effectively
be established and maintained by close collabo-
ration of the two governments. Since the course
of postwar world events has been so greatly in
fluenced by Soviet Russian intransigence con-
sderations of security and defense strategy
must be given high place in the conduct of the
free nations and the relationship among these
nations
The modern record of Spain does not require
review here, except perhaps reminder that the
Franco government has been uncompromisingy
a foe of communism. Certain political charac
terstics of the Franco regime have served to
keep Spain relatively isolated from the Western
community Our own interest in closer rela-
tionShip with the Madrid government has de-
veloped haltingly retarded by the hesitancy or
outright diSapproval OF some OF our Western
Allies and advanced only through an increasing
realization Of the military advantage of a secure
outpost on the peninsula
It was only after hard and long fight in
Congress that funds were made available in late
1850 for economic and military aid to Spain. In
early 1851, Stanton Griffis was confirmed as our
first Ambassador to the Franco government
Last summer, the late Admiral Sherman, then
Chief of Naval Operations, gave strong push
to the developing relationship through direct
consultation with General Franco and sub
Sequent recommendation that we negotiate with
the Spanish government for q bilateral military
agreement to include establishment of American
air and naval bases on Spanish territory. Nego-
tiationS are still going on.
Through all of this the Portuguese position
has been clear and consistent. Although a
member of the NATO bloc, Portugal has recog
nized the Wilderness of the Iberian Peninsula
and has contended all along that exclusion of
Spain from the Western defense structure would
necessarily limit her own contribution to West
ern strength. In other words, without Spain
being part of the Western bloc, Portugal would
feel bound to keep her own forces at home for
frontier defense The spelling out of the Madrid
Lisbon agreement should ease this requirement,
but probably means that the two governments
will act in closer concert on efforts to have
Spain accepted as partner in the Western front.
It is not without significance, incidentally,
that at this very time Spain is engaged in tight
ening its relationship with other Mediterranean
countries The Spanish Foreign Minister is cur
rently visiting other Mediterranean capitals In
the Middle East. The emergence of Spain in a
leading role in a grouping Of these countries
most of which are at odds with one or all of
the Big Three-would provide further bar
gaining asset to Madrid and an additional rea-
son for acceptance Of Spain in the Western
security alliance.
Economically and militarily, Spain needs
more today than she can give. With assistance,
however, her potential can become reality Of
considerable value to the non Communist
nations.