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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University College, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 21, No. 9. July 23, 1958

American Bases in Spain

American Bases in Spain

American relations with Spain have come a long way since the day eight years ago when President Truman gave Spain's first post-war representative in Washington a curt ten-minute welcome. The Eisenhower Administration, under considerable pressure from right-wing elements in Congress, has reversed the Democrats' stand, and since 1953 Spain has been regarded as an important part of the U.S.'s European defence system.

The result? Last month what was described as the largest and most modern defence system outside the U.S. was nearing completion in Franco's Spain. This includes the Cadiz naval base, live airfields, and a radar "early-warning system" incorporating some of the most up-to-date equipment available. The air bases, the largest west of the Curtain, house a quarter of the U.S.'s Strategic Air Command.

The reason for all this is American dissatisfaction with the N.A.T.O. powers. There are more disagreements today than at probably any time since the E.D.C. wrangles in 1953-54. Last year's N.A.T.O. conference revealed doubts about accepting missile bases in some quarters. Fresher still in Mr. Dulles' memory must be the European pressure to start summit negotiations and the unseemly Anglo-German wrangle over support costs for the Rhine Army. And in the last few weeks there have been fears that De Gaulle might "take France out of N.A.T.O." The Americans apparently find the Franco dictatorship, which, of course, is morbidly anti-Communist, much easier to deal with than a clutch of squabbling allies or a democratic cabinet. There is also the advantage that a dictatorship can afford to be particularly ruthless about getting property-owners off land required for an airfield.

The defence system has cost S900,000,000 and since the Americans began spending this four years ago Spain has suffered from an in.ation Spain has suffered from an inflation which caused a cost of living rise of 20% last year. Opponents of the Franco regime claim that this great expenditure has revided the Caudillo's failing economy and prestige as well as any more overt aid programme could have. Of course, Spain's political smell is too bad for her to be admitted to N.A.T.O., but this makes her all the more useful to America. The Spanish-American military combine has been built up to such a strength that it would be an effective substitute should the N.A.T.O. allies fail politically or militarily.

Because other European powers will not accept American ideas on defence or foreign policy with sufficient enthusiasm, the Eisenhower Administration has taken the short cut of patronising the most reactionary state in Western Europe, and now finds itself supporting its Fascist regime against a democratic opposition.

This opposition's bitterness about American policy has been voiced by Spain's most distinguished exile, Salvador de Madariaga, in a recent letter to the "Manchester Guardian". He says: "The conflict between East and West may hypothetically and eventually have to be fought on the battlefield; it is actually and presently being fought in men's minds and hearts. The United States is losing that fight by her cold and cynical attitude as between physical and moral power, as the case of Spain typically shows".

—J.D.