Cheer Franco In Attacks On U.K., France, Russia

Northern Advocate, 19 May 1949, Page 5

Cheer Franco In Attacks On U.K., France, Russia

MADRID, Wed. (1 p.m.).—-At the opening of Parliament today, Genera] Franco said that in 1941 Mr Winston -Churchill _ offered Spain part of French North Africa as the price for Spanish neutrality in the war. Deputies jumped to their feet time after time in approval as Franco attacked Britain, France and Russia. He accused the Western democracies of. handing the greater part of Europe over to Russia and read what he called secret; messages between Britain, the United States and the Kremlin, in 1944 on plans to invade Europe through Spain. /

The opening of the Cortes had been postponed until today, because Franco wished first to know of the United Nations decision bn Spain. Franco accused Britain of not keeping promises made to Spain during the war

drawn up bv General George Strong .. 'then assistant chief of staff for United * States Military Intelligence) to at* tack the German Atlantic wall by in* vasion through Spain Franco said this plan was- .scotched by Russia, as was evident from • telegram sent from Moscow dated February 2, 1944

He quoted Mr Churchill as having told the wartime Spanish Ambassador in London (the Duke ot Alba): "If England wins the war. she will help Spain to become a strong power in the Mediterranean and support her rightful territorial aspirations in North Africa."

Franco said Spain was entering upon s new state in her foreign relations. “We find European states so clumsy, so old, so divided, that the> are pushing us towards the countries of our own strain in the American Continent, in which the United States has achieved a ruling position. » - ‘

Franco said Britain did not hesitate to make promises in 1940, promises which offered a small guarantee, because they were made when Britain was nearly in the throes of death-

“REALITIES” "Realities lead, us towards the United States, but with dignified relations, reciprocal loyalty and clear friendship.** Falangists demonstrated tonight after Franco’s speech tc the Corte’3.

-ALLIED INTRIGUES" Franco spoke of Allied intrigues in Spain, and said: "Not one of the foreign conspirators passed unnoticed by us and over half of the secret agents used by foreign powers were in our employ and were playing a double game.” , He reaffirmed Spain's friendship for Portugal, for Arab and South American countries, and for the United States.

They displayed banners with slogans attacking the United Nations. . * . Earlier, shops and schools closed on official orders and labour syndicates appealed to their members to join in tonight's mass meetings. BRITISH RELATIONS;

He said these nations were Spain's friends, despite a “certain country’s attempts at torpedoing our good relations with them. Franco saw be wouio make wbat oe called a ‘most important revelation, which the chancelleries invested are keeping secret, bul which Spain has a right to know.’

The House of Lords tonighi agreed to a motion approving- the Atlantic Treaty During the debate on the treaty the Marquess of Salisbury, the Earl of Perth, the Earl of Halifax and Viscount Cecil urgently demanded resumption of full British diplomatic relations with Spain. Opposition speakers accused the Government of an entirely unrealistic altitude towards Spain and criticised the British United Nations representatives abstaining from voting on th* question whether Spain should be admitted to the United Nations. „ j

He then read to the Cortes a telegram from the British Foreign Office, dated January 31,' 1944, addressed to the United Stales Slut.* Department

INVASION PLAN This telegram expressed British Foreign agreement on-a plan