Spain and Gibraltar

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32967, 13 July 1972, Page 12

Spain and Gibraltar

The more moderate tone of recent exchanges between Britain and Spain on the future status of Gibraltar is clearly due to the imminence of Britain’s entry into the European Economic Community. Spain is not a member of the E.E.C., but has a preferential trade agreement with the Six, concluded in 1970. The member States of the Community account for a third of all Spanish trade. This proportion will be enlarged by British entry, so it is not surprising that the Spanish Government is not only concerned to preserve the link, but also to secure, if possible, better terms in a renewed agreement than those now in force. A friendly British voice in E.E.C. discussions would obviously be of great advantage to Spain. Sir Alec Douglas-Home was in Madrid in February when the Spanish request for a review of the agreement was before a meeting of the Community in Brussels. The Foreign Secretary had talks at that time with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Mr Lopez Bravo, who is due in London this month to continue the examination of relations between the two Governments.

The status of Gibraltar is expected to be the main topic of the discussions in London. Since 1969, when Mr Bravo took over the Foreign Ministry from Mr Castiella, Spain’s claims have been considerably modified. While Mr Castiella held office Gibraltar had virtually been brought under siege by Spain. Mr Castiella’s diplomacy was to ban all direct movement of goods and people between Spain and Gibraltar, in an effort to persuade the Gibraltarians to return to Spain rather than face the prospect of increasing economic hardship. The ploy failed. The 1967 referendum produced an overwhelming vote for continuance of the association with Britain, together with independent government in Gibraltar. In 1969, an election year, the new Integration With Britain party won five seats in the small 15-member legislature. and took office with the support of three independents. Then, last month, Sir Joshua Hassan returned to power at the head of his long-established Labour Party, and in spite of trade union support from Britain for the 1.W.8., Labour won a clear majority. It is unlikely now that there will be any further attempt by Spain to bring the people of Gibraltar under pressure. There is no sign whatever that they wish to abandon the link with Britain, now or in the future. Mr Bravo, as a realist, takes the view that anv “ solution ” would have to protect “ the interests “of the inhabitants”. Where British policy is concerned, Sir Alec Douglas-Home has already said the last word. “For you”, he told Mr Bravo in Madrid, “it is a matter of territory; for us it is “ pre-eminently a problem of people ”.