MONARCHY IN SPAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26492, 6 August 1951, Page 7

MONARCHY IN SPAIN

Demand Made For Restoration

(N.Z. Press Association—Copy right) Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 5.

Count Don Juan, Pretender to the Spanish Throne had written to General Franco demanding the immediate restoration of the monarchy, the "New York Times” reported from Lisbon today.

The dispatch said that Prince Don Juan, Count of Barcelona, also called on General Franco to restore personal liberties to the Spaniards as the only way to save the country from chaos. His personal 2000 word letter accused General Franco of using the idea of the Monarchy as a political reserve while really blocking its return.

Prince Don Juan made it clear that he would not consider the compromise rumoured as the dictator’s hope—with General Franco as Regent and

the young Prince Juan Carlos, a son of Prince Don Juan as heir.

That would -mean a wait for 17 years before Prince Juan Carlos, at the age of 30, could ascend the Throne his grandfather, King Alfonso, was forced to leave.

The dispatch said that Prince Don Juan summarised his views in three points:

(1) Spain must revise her general policies before winning the place she deserved in the community of nations. (2) Prince Don Juan and the Monarchists were entirely at the service of Spain but demanded the liberalisation of the regime. (3) General Franco alone would be responsible for any disaster which, might occur through the desperation of the Spanish people if he refused to make those changes. The dispatch said that General Franco still had not replied to the letter, which was delivered to him personally on July 12.