November 26, 1975

Franco Death Political Change

The central political fact of Spain today is the death of Francisco Franco.

I toured Spain in May of 1971 and attempted to assess the outlook of Spaniards toward a right-wing dictator.  Following is my report of four years ago.  Soon we will see if my conclusions then are accurate.

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Franco's tomb is ready.

Spaniards assume it will be the largest cathedral in their country, rivaling St.  Peter's in size and the Pyramids in grandeur.

The structure is INSIDE a granite mountain, a short ride from Madrid.

The Basilica, at the head of the Valley of The Fallen, was built by Franco as a monument to the dead of both sides of the bitter civil war of 1936-39.  Conspicuously, a mortuary near the impressive altar-in-the-round is vacant.

An organ plays continuously during visiting hours.  Heroic statues of the saints peer majestically from niches in the natural granite.  Tapestry masterpieces line the walls.  Atop the mountain, a huge cross dominates the countryside.

The monument is truly the eighth wonder of the world, one of the world's architectural triumphs.

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Franco hopes to take something with him to the grave - the bitterness of the Spanish Civil War which killed a million people.  The controversy which divided the Spaniards still smolders.  Leaders of all political persuasions fear the hate will leap again -into flame once the strong hand of Franco is stilled.

The walls of some buildings in Madrid this spring were splashed with crudely painted political slogans: "The People, Yes," and "Red Priests Get Out."

To keep political passions under control, Franco governs sternly.  By his enemies he is called a despotic dictator; his friends call him a benevolent dictator.

Franco's solution to his succession is a nominal king backed by a "Cortes" broadly representative of all significant social and economic groups.

To this end, Prince Juan Carlos of the Royal House of Spain is being groomed to step into symbolic leadership in a manner similar to that of Great Britain.

This plan is heartily approved by the Spaniards I met.  The big question is whether the majority of laborers and farmers will accept the arrangement.

Best bet is they will.

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Spain's modern troubles began with the ousting of King Alfonso XIII in 1923 by a left-wing dictatorship followed by a Popular Front of communists, socialists and labor syndicalists.  The church was disestablished, education secularized, and large estates broken up.

Many reforms proposed by the Popular Front were needed, but the strong ties to Russia alarmed conservative elements in the country.

A coup was launched in 1936 by army officers in Morocco, lead by Franco.  The bitter civil war followed.

The fascist countries of Germany and Italy came to the aid of Franco while Soviet Russia sent arms to the "Loyalists." but an "Abraham Lincoln Brigade" of leftist American volunteers fought against the conservative Falange forces of Franco.

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The American presence - in Spain today - formerly very noticeable with its big Strategic Air Command atomic-armed bombers - is decreasing.  SAC is now represented by a small re-fueling base.

Franco's elite LaGuardia military force, is thoroughly disliked because of its exemption from civil restraints.  The sight of the dark blue three-cornered hats of LaGuardia soldiers dampens the conversation and movements of all large crowds where they are most evident.  Undoubtedly, the LaGuardia will be greatly modified when Juan Carlos takes over.

In the meantime, Franco relinquishes dictatorial powers gradually under an "Organic Law" constitution approved overwhelmingly by popular referendum in 1947.  Some civil rights suspended 40 years ago are due for restoration this year.  However, Franco seeks by vote of the Cortes for stronger laws to maintain law and order as he gives up dictatorial power.  Probably, the laws will be enacted.

Spain is a misunderstood ally of the United States.  Franco works hard for a stable society at home and a stable Europe abroad.  He is "establishment" with vengeance.

The dictatorial approach - even for worthy goals - grates on American sensibilities.  Yet, we should keep in mind the backward conditions that gave world communism a hold in Spain - a high rate of illiteracy, limited education for the masses, inordinate economic spread between the very rich and the very poor.

Strong measures were needed to save the country from worse dictatorship, and Franco performed this service.  It is to his credit that his reforms have been based on the realities of the situation, and that he works to put Spain eventually into the realm of free nations.

Author: Lindsey Williams