Evening star., 1959-11-28
McGM on Spain

Ralph McGill is to be COM
mended for his fortnight
condemnation of the Presi-
dents trip to Spain.
Many people would like us
to believe that Franco saved
Spain from communism. II
these people would take the
trouble to find out who
fought against Franco and
his fascistS, they would dis
cover that the forces Of the
Spanish Republic were over
whelmingly Communist.
I would suggest that they
compare the vote which the
Communists received in Spain
in 1881 to the votes they re-
ceived in the German elec-
tions of 1888 after Hitler
came into power.
I also invite their atten-
ton to the recent results Of
the Italian elections, where
the Communists polled good
share of the vote. At no time
did the Communists ever re-
ceive more than 2 per cent
of the vote in elections con-
Quoted by the Spanish Re-
public. Yet, the reactionaries
would have us believe that
Spain was filled with Com
munists in 1896. These same
people would have us believe
that Franco did nothing to
aid Hitler. One has but to
look at the State Department
reports on Spain of 1946 to
refute this. The facts are
that Franco helped Hitler in
many ways. He provided
Hitler with a listening post
in Spain with which to fol-
low the movements Of allied
shipping. Franco was instru-
mental in planting axis spies
in Latin America. Frances
quote regarding the fall Of
France, Hitler has the good
eye," will never be forgotten
by liberals everywhere.
Here is a man who ruth
leSsly prosecuted his "ene-
mics" after the civil war was
over; Beisteiro, CompanyS
and thousands of other Span
iards were put in jail or shot
outright.
Here is a man who gladly
took Hitler's aid to gain his
own ruthless ends, and who
would have entered the war
on the side of the axis If
Hitler'S terms had been good
enough to satisfy his greed.
This is Franco-a man the
United States cannot afford
to be associated with; a man
who is anti-Protestant, anti
democratic, anti-liberal-who
stands against decency and
government of the people.
Thomas E. MOseley.
AS a SpaniSh-American
visiting in the United States,
I must completely disagree
with Ralph McGill's feelings
and fears about Mr.. Eisen-
hower's visit to Spain.
In my country, Guatemala,
as in the countries south Of
the border, we are freedom
loving people.
We have, though, been
fooled by the kind of freedom
most of our liberal, Masonic
and Protestant minded" Off
cials have given to our reli-
gion, our culture, and the de-
velopment and progress Of
the people.
Certainly Catholic Spanish
America will welcome Mr..
EiSenhower's visit to Spain.
Mr.. McGill need not be
afraid of any d age to
Latin American relations if
he will recognize that the
peoples feelings are worthy
of consideration and respect.
Luz de Leon.
= 4
I must take issue with Mr..
McGill re: Spain. He possibly
did not live in or visit that
cultured country; I did, and
well know the country and it's
people, besides knowing their
language and mores.
In many ways that country
Is as complex as our own.
Why. oh why, should we
punish" the fine Spanish
people because of Franco?
They never had a choice. We
have. two, take it or leave it,
a Republican and a Demo-
crat. Quite a choice.
For instance, the statement
that we owe Franco nothing
is misleading. True. we paid
for the bases and well, but
they are in a friendly coun-
try and are not obsolete as
of today. Some bases are bet
ter than none.
After all, Franco represents
the Spanish people. whether
we approve or not.
MahIOn Ashford