Evening star., 1953-09-26
Agreement Provides
BuIwork Against
Any Red Aggression
By james (. Roper

The United States and Spain,
after II months OF negotiations,
today signed defense agree
ment authorizing the United
States to develop and use air
and sea bases in Spain.
The United States will give
Spain during the current fiscal
year 1926 million worth of eco
nomic aid and military equip
ment, with first emphasis on air.
craft. This is only a starter.
The economic aid program is
expected to continue for sew
eral years. The administration
will ask the coming session of
Congress to appropriate funds
for the next fiscal year.
In addition the United States
will spend vast sums in develop
ing the air and sea bases. Spain
Will supply some counterpart
funds.
Will Strengthen Defense.
The bases that the United
States will develop in Spain are
intended to strengthen Western
detenSes against any possible So
Wet aggression across Europe.
The bases, resting reasonably safe
behind the craggy Pyrenees
Mountains on the Franco-Span-
lsh border, will be a second line
OF defense should any Soviet at
tack gain initial successes in
france and the Low Countries.
The historic action brought
FRANCOIS Spain, long Stunned by
the victors of World War II
INTO partnership with the United
States in the Vests defense
against the danger of Soviet
attack.
The agreement did not spec
lily which bases the United
States would develop. Spain
Will announce the specific sites.
Speculation on Sites.
1t was understood. however.
that the United States would use
at least two naval bases-at
Cartegena on the Mediterranean
and Ell Ferrol on the Atlantic
near Gibraltar or Cadiz in
Northern Spain in the Bay of
Blscay. At least four air bases
would 60 to the United States.
These would be in the areas of
Madrid. Barcelona and two
places in Southern Spain not
far from Seville.
The agreement runs for 10
years, with provisions for auto
matte extension for two periods
OF five years. Either country
can cancel the agreement on
six months notice at the end
of the first 10-year period or the
flve-year periods.
The agreement does not COM
NIT the United States and Spain
to fight Side-by-side in case Of
war, but this is the implication
throughout the three agree
mentS.
The defense advancement
states: "The time and manner
of wartime utilization of said
areas (the sea and air baSes)
will be mutually agreed upon"
Dunn Signs for U. S.
The Spanish-American ar
rangement was put in writing
in three agreements signed in
Madrid by United States Am
baSSador James c. Dunn and
Spanish Foreign Minister Don
Alberto Martin Artajo. Texts
of the agreements were an
nounced simultaneously in Ma
drid and Washington. They are
executive agreements that do
not require Senate confirma-
ton.
The agreements call for:
l. Construction and use of
facilities by the United
2. United States economic as
SiStance to Spain.
3. United States contribution
of military end items to Spain
to provide training.
Joint Use of Airfields.
"The United States" the State
Department announced, will
start construction to develop
certain existing Spanish military
airfields for joint use by the
Spanish air force and the United
States Air Force. and will mod
ernize certain naval facilities for
use by the Spanish and United
States navies. The agreements
also provide for the subsequent
of additional mill
tary facilities as future condi-
tlons may require.
The military areas to be
tSee SPAIN. Page A-3.)