Evening star., 1960-08-28
SDunish Monorchists
Steady and Hopeful

Who are the monarchists? And
what of their planning?
They are doctors, lawyers, writ
ers. teachers, businessmen and
farmers as well as countless other
citizens. Some are left-wingers;
others stand almost exactly in the
center; still others cling tena-
ciously to the right.
There are few accurate esti-
mates Of the Monarchists' numer-
ical strength. The key to this
enigma is simple and direct: Many
Spaniards, fearing imprisonment.
are reluctant to espouse openly
the contention that a monarchy
following Franco would best suit
the needs Of nation still cropping
to take it's place in a twentieth
century world. Estimates run
from several thousand to the tens
OF thousands, but this is sheer
guesswork.
The Monorchists Groups
However, to those who seek out
let in active political maneuver-
ings. there are at least three
organizations dedicated to the
success Of the monarchy. They
are:
The left-wing Union Espanola-
This is composed Of influential
government critics. who have
championed the monarchy since
their organization five years ago.
They meet as a group from time
to time; occasionally, the govern
ment grants them permission Gall
meetings Of five people or more
in Spain must have official sane
tion), but just as often the eXecu-
tive committee Of the Union Es-
pagnola will designate a time and
place. with or without government
acknowledgment.
On occasions, the Union EspanA
ola directorate will put their COL
lective thinking down on paper.
sending leaflets through the mail,
and usually bitterly assailing the
regime. Because of such actions.
some members of the group are
considered by the government to
be potentially dangerous" and
have had their passports lifted.
These individuals. in short. must
remain under 24-hour surveillance.
But. until now, the regime has
made no effort to quash the organ
ization entirely.
The Renovation E Espanola.-
These are the traditionalists who.
in terms of historical design, have
faithfully backed the Bourbon
dynasty. During the star-crossed
Second Republic this faction served
as one of the numerous parlia-
mentary groups. Today. those
deputies still living, as we'll as the
newer recruits, swear an unequiv-
ocal fealty to the pretender.
The right-wing Christian Demo-
crats.-They are led by the aging
but still agile Gil Robles. himself
a leading cabinet figure during
the eight-year turbulence of the
Second Republic. Here the picture
is clouded by the fact that this
party" has branches in Barcelona
and the Basque country as WELL
Some members, at least a respect
able minority, see in the Christian
mocratS an effective anti
regime tool that need not confine
its sentiment to monarchy alone.
AS the name implies, the Christian
Democrats are attracted by the
formal and political mold of Ger
many's and Italys Chris t a n
Democrats and, 1t is alleged, main
tain secret relations with their
colleagues in the latter two coun-
tries.
There are thousands and thou
sands-but apparently politically
impotent-Carlists who. followers
Of Don Carlos in the war Of
1933-40 that saw Carlos make
bold bid for the throne follow
ing the death of his brother Fer
dinand VII. are supporting a de-
scendant of Carlos, Don Javier.
There seems to be a growing
trend, but by no means a swell of
support, for the monarchy. Don
Juan does remain hope, a flicker
of light in an otherwise dark pic
ture, If one can suggest that a
lack Of opposition is not healthy
for any country's political devel-
opment.
Yet the rush Of time and events
could, in the final analysis, defeat
Juan's present stand Of waiting
for Franco to select the day and
hour. Some of Juan's advisers are
frankly concerned that Spains
current economic slump might
lead to chaos, and chaos, as they
point out is never more than a
step away from a Castro. Even
in politically lethargic Spain, they
warn.
What they are suggesting, then.
is that Spain's day of change may
be much closer at hand than any
one now suspects.