FRANCO MAY RETIRE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28561, 15 April 1958, Page 13

FRANCO MAY RETIRE

Report Published In London

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, April 13. The dictator of Spain, General Franco, who is now 66, may voluntarily retire shortly and hand over to an interim government, the “Daily Mail” reported. Persistent reports from Madrid during the weekend said he was going to Switzerland for a bladder operation. The reports claimed that an interim Government would then be set up.

Later it would be announced that General Franco was too ill to return and a plebiscite would be held to determine the type of government wanted.

The reports also recalled that General Franco’s wife recently visited Madeira.

Spanish diplomatic circles in London dismissed the reports as “the result of malicious gossip by pro-Monarchist factions.” One diplomat said: “The Caudillo is not going to follow in Napoleon’s footsteps and exile himself on Elba or anywhere else.”

The Spanish Army is known to favour a return of the pretender to the throne, Don Juan, who three weeks ago was visited in Portugal by Mrs Franco. Don Juan postponed a trip abroad by 48 hours to receive her and the meeting was taken to be possible preparation for the restoration of the Monarchy. It was the first time that Don Juan had extended any sort of official recognition to General Franco since he had become dictator 19 years ago.