FRANCO’S ADDRESS

Grey River Argus, 16 May 1946, Page 5

FRANCO’S ADDRESS

TO NEW PARLIAMENT Soviet Pressure Against Spain LONDON, May 14. A correspondent at Madrid of the Exchange Telegraph News Agency stated: “General Franco addressed the new Cortes at Madrid. He said that those countries breaking off relations with Spain were either under Russian pressure or political adventurers seeking favour with the successful side.” General Franco warned aliens against interfering in the affairs of the Spanish “Catholic democracy.” Commenting on the Security Council discussion, General Franco said: “We don’t want a Red Spain.” General Franco said that Senor Giral and other stateless Republicans had made a mess of things in Spain, finishing up in the civil war, which arose “because of historic necessity.” General Franco claimed that Spain is an historic development of democratic ideas. Christian Catholicism was the essence of Spanish thought and life.

The correspondent said: “The speech was wildly incoherent against a background of applause, swelling repeatedly into frenzied outbursts. The scene as General Franco spoke was comparable with the Reichstag listening to Hitler. The applause when General Franco appeared was frantic.”

The correspondent also stated: “The British Ambassador to Spain, Sir Victor Mallet, told the Spanish Government that Britain did not regard her measures against the “obnoxious” Germans in Spain as entirely satisfactory. Further action was requested. The British move was made when the Spanish Government stated it had fidfilled its obligations to deal with “obnoxious” Germans and German assets. Britain is demanding the removal of 3,500 Germans from Spain. There is no information as to the next step tc be taken regarding German assets, but it is likely that the whole matter wil’be referred to the United Nations subcommittee on Spain.”