The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1949 WHAT OF FRANCO?

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 March 1949, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1949 WHAT OF FRANCO?

THE report that London lias dismissed Franco's claim that the alternative to his regime is chaos or Communism as either bluff or blackmail is in line with the general belief concerning his ■regime. Notwithstanding occasional apologists for Franco the belief persists that he is a creature of Mussolini’s and was sustained by Hitler, the three of them using the Russian intervention as the Excuse for the support previously afforded the Caudillo.

Mr. John Bradshaw, writing in Blackwoods Magazine for November after a walking tour through rural Spain, came to the following conclusion: “1 had not been long in Madrid before my experiences on the road and the information I obtained in the capital crystallised into four conclusions. Firstly, it is clear that the country is ruled by a highly centralised Government in the person of General Franco and a council of State, but there are many signs that Ihc Government is slowly moving towards a system of elected representation. Secondly, it is a popular Government in that it has the assent of the majority. Thirdly, it is undoubtedly working for the good of Spain, and has achieved considerable success in uniting the vast assortment of victorious and defeated parties which emerge from the Civil "War. Finally, it is, with the exception of Portugal, the most secure Government in M estern Europe, and every piece of advice offered to General Franco by foreign statesmen, and every action against Spain in U.N.O. only serve to make the nation rally even more closely to the Government. What I saw and heard during- the rest of my journey confirmed my views. ’ ’ The foregoing might be regarded as a reasonable and balanced view of one disposed towards Franco from the start, for his article emphasises the persistence of the Black Legion concerning Spain which was supported by “Kingsley’s magnificent prose.” But it also presents the situation as over simplified, in that the choice is either Franco or Communism, with nothing in between. The fact that it was Spain which gave the term “Liberal” to the world is overlooked and that such men as Salvador de Madariaga today express a point, of view which is widely accepted in cultured circles throughout the world gets no mention. It is the absence of this middle element, the element which by reason of its position is most likely to unite the extremes which makes such pictures of the Peninsula unsatisfying. Franco won to his position by the employment of foreign aid. It was the work not of a patriot but of a rebel who turned traitor and succeeded because he was enabled at the time to enlist the world elements against his country. It was those elements, personified by Hitler and Mussolini, which have given to the Soviet Union its present dominating position in the world today. Franco’s fight against Communism is about as useful as a can of petrol in a. warehouse fire. If Franco’s Government “is a popular Government in that it has the assent of the majority” as John Bradshaw avers, then there is need for the continued delay in the introduction of popular elections. And if it is “with the exception of Portugal, the most secure Government in Western Europe” then two things are certain; it can let down the repressive elements in the internal situation and it should have been impossible for a hotel waiter to remark “everyone is for Franco, and if he increased the bread ration, they would make him king.” It is on the economic side as well as on the political that Franco has failed. He has been in office for twelve years, a dangerous dale for dictators as Napoleon and Hitler discovered. During that time Franco has wielded more power than any other ruler since Phillip the Second. It may be true that the peasants are able to produce enough for themselves, even though they find difficulty in making purchases., but a country cannot be considered to be satisfactorily conditioned until all the people are reasonably clothed and housed. Notwithstanding his wide powers and the alleged support of the majority the economic and financial situation has consistently deteriorated. General Franco has been looking for a loan from the United States of America and the sum he is hoping for is no less than 401) million dollars. William Stuttard, the “Sunday Times” representative in Madrid, reporting his anticipations of the Budget, states: “The army, civil guards, and police, I understand, will account for about 40 per cent, of the total budget, whilst agriculture and education will be allotted their usual absurdly small amounts in comparison. The maintenance of the Falange Party, with its thousands of bureaucrats, is an expense the people would be glad to be rid of ... . The delay in ‘liberalisation’ of the regime, however, is beginning to cause uneasiness. The Church, which has closely ide ified itself with Franco’s regime, is beginning to fear the ci. iiienees if a sudden collapse came. Its leaders would like to see li e Caudillo make some evolutionary moves in the New Year. “The situation in Spain is undoubtedly fraught with dangers. Blood feuds have multiplied since the end of the cruel civil war in 1939. Many Spaniards feel that any abrupt solution to th® problem of their lost liberalities runs the risk of precipitating another civil conflict of vengeance. Haunted by this fear, many of them though disliking Franco, and hating the Falange, continue to support the evil they know. The misfortune of the Spaniards’ position lies in their own lack of policy after .years of rigid and silenced conformity. An evolution, therefore, towards the “democratisation’ of the present regime would seem to be the safest policy at this juncture.” Between the two views that Franco’s is the safest Government liar that of Portugal and that is is likely to break down precipitately there may lie a measure of agreement. It would be that Franco is still able to impose his regime on the people irrespective of how they view the matter, in which ease it cannot be known whether or not Franco has the willing support of the majority. The fact that the Regime on its own ease is of the piecrust character in that public order will not be guaranteed unless the Spanish Government receives substantial American help soon spells the failure of Franco, the Falange, and the organisations that supported the regime over a. decade of absolute power. It does not appear that the revolt and foreign invasion of Spain which goes by the name of a civil war, has been justified by results. In the circumstances what should be done for Spam? Her people are courteous and brave. They are working out their own destiny and experience has shown that. it. is dangerous for any foreigner to interfere. Franco has no love for Hie Western nations. His blood brothers are the dead and dishonoured Hitler and Mussolini who together had an affinity with Hie Communists whom they denounced. To support Franco today is to throw Liberal Spain into a more hostile state of mind than it is already as a result of a non-intervention policy when the Fascist Stales attacked Spain under Franco’s banner. If Ihe Franco’s piecrust structure is going Io collapse if would be belter for it 1o collapse of its own weakness and that right soon. Then if those who supported him in his terrible and bloody adventure have a love ol

Spain in their hearts they will assist a popular Government to rehabilitate the country with Western civilisation and so build up a healthy economy by becoming an integral part of the Western world. Further, such a line of action would give the Communi'ts no opportunity for presenting the Western Democracies as Fascist Bowers, supporting the Fascist dictator in Spain.