Evening star., 1955-11-06
By HARRY BACAs

Sunny Spain. and her chief
city of Madrid, viii be closer
than ever for American ship
travellers under q new travel ar
rangement Just concluded be-
tween the Spanish governpent
and the American Export Lines.
with the Spanish govern
ment's cooperation. the line
will inaugurate q new direct ex-
press passenger service between
New York and Madrid early in
January. Sweeping simplifed
entrance procedures are q part
Of the new travel plan.
Announcement Of the new
service was made recently by
John e. Slater, president Of the
steamship company, alta lunch-
con In New York aboard the
luxury liner independence hon.
oring the Spanish Ambassador,
Jose M. de Areilza. the Count OF
Motrieo.
Starting with the sailing OF the
Constitution from New York on
January IL, liners viii sail di-
rect for the southern Spanish
port of Algeciras. The Independ-
ence will alternate with her sister
ship at intervals of about IL
days.
Over Sun Route
The vessels will make the
s.24O-mile trans Atlantic voyage
via the southern route in six
days. Following quick customs
and immigration clearance. pas
sengers will board q special boat
train, The Castilian, for an over
night express run to Madrid.
They win arrive at Madrid at
noon one week after their de-
parture from New York.
The special train will be aVail-
able on each Of the so annual
outward and homeward calls IN
Spain.
hesnew arrangement marks
the first major transatlantic
express service between the two
countries. It Is q major step in
furthering the Spanish goyern-
ment's desire to establish Alge-
ciras as q principal port Tor
international trafiic.
In addition To The Castilian,
special provisions have been
made for passengers bound for
Seville, Malaga, Granada; Cadiz
and other Spanish cities.
Taxes Eliminated
Besides sponsoring the special
boat-train service, the Spanish
government has waived all ma
tional taxes on travellers who
patronize the new service. Among
the imposts to be dropped are
individual manifest fees, embar-
kation ticket value tax. sanitary
dues and immigration tax on
lower price tickets.
After calling at AIgeciras. the
Independence and Constitution
viii continue to Cannes, Genoa
and Naples and sail homeward
on the same course. The new
Madrid train service makes pos
sible q six-day visit in Spain
as part Of q round trip. All
arrangements. including train
reservations and hotel accom-
modatinns. can be made before
leaving this country.
American Export Lines has op.
Grated for years to Gibraltar
which Mr.. Slater called excel,
lent for landings. but not foI
getting INTO Spain. The take,
which Spain IS waving for pas.
EGA3 EA4t 0AA tAAG tA<W SENtAN%b IN
said. have been more Of d nui,
sance than any substantial
source Of revenue for Spain.
Better Facilities
The ambassador, eornmentinl
on the new arrangements, calies
the plan only q logical conse,
quence which derives from geog
raphy and from the commercial
understanding and friendship
which now distinguish relation
between our two countries
He said the Andalusian seapor
of Algeciras offers greater an,
better facilities for landing an
eYnbarkation Of American tray
elers who wish to visit Spain
than any other port Of that sec
TRAVEL
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