Declarations of tke President
of tke Government of tke Spanisk Repuklic
don Alvaro de Alkornoz at tke press confe-
rence of tke 20th. of January 1950,

in tke Spanisk Emkassy of M�xico, tke day
after Mr. Ackensons declaration was made known.

as the United Nations. It was part of the conspiracy that
Franco's full belligerency should be postponed until a time
to be mutually agreed upon.

The General Assembly, convinced that the Franco Fas-
cist Government of Spain which was imposed by force upon
the Spanish people with the aid of the Axis Powers and
which gave material assistance to the Axis Powers in the
war, does not represent the Spanish people, and by its con-
tinued control of Spain is making impossible the participa-
tion of the Spanish people with the peoples of the United
Nations in international affairs :

Recommends that the Franco Government of Spain be
debarred from membership in international agencies es-
tablished by, or brought into relationship with, the United
Nations, and from participation in conferences or other ac-
tivities which may be arranged by the United Nations or by
these agencies, until a new and acceptable government is
formed in Spain.

The General Assembly further, desiring to secure the
participation of all peace-loving peoples, including the people
of Spain, in the community of nations.

Recommends that if within a reasonable time there is
not established a government which derives its authority
from the consent of the governed, committed to respect
freedom of speech, religion and assembly, and to the prompt
holding of an election in which the Spanish people, free
from force and intimidation and regardless of party, may
express their will, the Security Council consider the adequa-
te measures to be taken in order to remedy the situation and,

Recommends that all Members of the United Nations
immediatly recall from Madrid, their ambassadors and mi-
nisters plenipotentiary, accredited there.

The Assembly further recommends that the State
Members of the Organization report to the Secretary-Gene-
ral, and to the next Assembly, what action they have taken
in accordance with this recommendation ».

Besides being interesting to put on record the text of
this resolution of the Assembly of the United Nations of the
12th. of December 1946, it is also interesting to remember
that this declaration of the Assembly contains a preamble,
which I have not time to read, which is probably the most
energetic criticism which has been made of Franco and his
regime. And in fact this preamble was proposed by the de-
legation of the United States and read before the Assembly
by Senator Connally, who is now one of the partisans of this
tendancy, which attempts to persuade the American policy
to give full recognition, both political and diplomatic, to
Franco's regime.

The Republican Government in exile had the intention
of making a public declaration in view of the Franquist
manoeuvre in the United States. Our declaration is motiva-
ted more by the words of Mr. Achenson than by the fact
that we are having a meeting to-day. But even had these
words not been pronounced, I should have felt it necessary
to express to-day my opinion, as I am about to have the
honour of doing before you.

It is particularly interesting to remember the text of
the resolution of the United Nations of the 12th. Of Decem-
ber 1946, which says :

« The. peoples of the United Nations, at San Francisco,
Potsdam and London, condemned the Franco regime in
Spain and decided that as long as that regime remains,
Spain may not be admitted to the United Nations.

The General Assembly in its resolution of 9 February
1946, recommended that the Members of the United Nations
should act in accordance with the letter and the spirit of
the declarations of San Francisco and Potsdam.

The peoples of the United Nations assure the Spanish
people of their enduring sympathy and of the cordial wel-
come awaiting them when circumstances enable to be ad-
mitted to the United Nations.

The General Assembly recalls that in May and June
1946, the Security Council conducted an investigation of the
possible further action to be taken by the United Nations.
The Sub-Committee of the Security Council charged with
the investigation found unanimously : �

(a) in origin, nature, structure and general conduce, the
Franco regime is a fascist regime patterned on, and es-
tablished largely as a result of aid received from, Hitler's
Nazi Germany and Mussolini's Fascist Italy ;

(b) during the long struggle of the United Nations
against. Hitler and Mussolini, Franco, despite continued
Allied prot�ts, gave very substantial aid to the enemy
Powers. First, for example, from 1941 to 1945, the Blue In-
fantry Division, the Spanish Legion of Volunteers and the
Salvador Air Squadron fought against Soviet Russia on the
eastern front. Second, in the summer of 1940 Spain seized
Tangier in breach of international statute, and as a result
of Spain maintaining a large army in Spanish Marocco
large numbers of Allied troops were immobilized in North
Africa.

(c) incontrovertible documentary evidence establishes
that Franco was a guilty party, with Hitler and Mussolini,
in the conspiracy to wage war against those countries which
eventually in the course of the world war became together

Spaniards ; on the other hand, to constitute for themselves
a democratic regime, because this help given to Franco
makes impossible a pacific and legal means of democratic
evolution of the Spanish regime.

That which we can see behind all this is indubitably not
help for Franco, nor the intention of helping, but a design
for economic penetration into Spain. This is a difficult and
delicate subject, I can even say a very grave subject ; that
is why I reserve it for the written declaration which the
Republican Government, of which I have the honour of
being the President, will publish.

THE CASE OF SPAIN, SATELLITE OF THE AXIS,

CANNOT BE COMPARED TO THAT OF RUSSIA,

ALLY OF THE DEMOCRACIES DURING THE WAR

Another argument for modification of the attitude of
the United Staets regarding Franco is that, if normal diplo-
matic relations are maintained with Russia and with those
coutries which are called satellites of Russia, which are to-
talitarian states, why should they not be maintained with
Franco, even if this regime is totalitarian ? This argument
is a fallacy, this argument is a sophism and could make
and does make many simple people accept as truth what
is in fact only a misrepresentation. Russia can have a re-
gime which is acceptable or is not acceptable ; she can be
or not be, according to our conception, a totalitarian State,
but Russia was an ally and the efficacity and the impor-
tance of the contribution of Russia to the war can only be
ignored either by injustice or forgetfulness.

In the same case as Russia are other countries, named
satellites, which struggled from the first moment against
the nazi or fascist invader, who fought for their own liberty,
and for the liberty of Europe and therefore for the liberty
of the world in the battlefields, and if they have since
evolved to a regime different from those which they had at
that time, it is done, and whether we like it or not, this is
a problem into which we cannot enter here. Their regime
changed because they were liberated from the invaders and
the oppression of a foreign tyranny, by the army nearest to
them, that is to say by the Soviet army.

This is not the case of Spain. The Spanish regime was
not allied to North-America nor to France nor to England.
Franco's regime was an enemy of the democracies during
the war. The Spanish fascist regime joined with Hitler and
Mussolini in unforgettable manifestations. Franco and his
Foreign Minister Serrano Su�er sent warm congratulations
to Hitler on the event of victories of the German army. In
Madrid, and this is a disgrace for our civilization, and for
our race, was celebrated, with much pomp, the fall of Paris,
a fact which was for us a source of great sorrow. In Africa
Franco made political manoeuvres, which could be easily
converted into military manoeuvres, threatening Tangiers,
rendering more difficult and seriously complicating the
liberty of movement of the Allies in Morocco, and in the
Mediterranean .Fascist Spain furnished the German subma-
rines with gasoline. All this was an undeniable participation
in the war, even without mentioning the despatch of the
Blue Legion to Russia. So, it cannot be said seriously and
conscientiously, with clear and impartial judgment that,
because relations are maintained with Russia and with the
satellite countries, they must also be fully maintained with
Franquist Spain. No ; these countries fought for liberty and
democracy � as was said by Roosevelt and by Churchill �
against the aggressors of the world. Spain, on the other
hand, was a fighter against the Allies, unimportant because
of the insignificance of her military force, important be-
cause of the hatred and venom that the Franquist regime
inspired against the Allies. Spain was a fascist-nazi fighter,
who did everything in her power against the democracies.

That is not all. Fascist Spain continuously insulted the
democratic countries, particularly the United States, Dean
Acheson's country. In the classes of Secondary Schools, in
the history lessons, Franco said as follows : « The United
States represent the materialist sense of the North Ameri-

THE PRESENT REGIME WAS IMPOSED WITH THE
HELP OF HITLER AND MUSSOLINI

There is one unchangeable fact, which is that the Fran-
quist regime, as is stated in the aforesaid declaration, was
imposed en Spain by the help of Hitler and Mussolini. It is
an unchangeable fact that nobody pretends to deny or to
question. But there is another fact, also established in the
resolution of the United Nations, that the Pranquist regime
is a regime of tyranny, which ignores all liberties, violates
all the fundamental rights �f the human personality, and
this fact for me, for all the Spanish Republicans, and for
the majority ef the democratic countries of the world is
equally incontrovertible.

In what has the Spanish situation been modified ? Has
the Spanish regime changed ? Does the regime which mo-
tivated the declaration of the United Nations of December
1946 exist no more ? By no means. Not only the situation
has not changed, but � Mr. Acheson admits it himself, and
he could not do otherwise because the world opinion is being
daily informed of the political and juridical life in Spain by
illustrious American journalists � in Spain all human
rights continue to be ignored. Spain continues to be a poli-
ce State.

What can be the reasons for changing the declaration
of the Assembly of December 1946, in the sense proposed by
the Secretary of State. It is said, in the first place, that this
declaration served more to invigorate than to destroy the
Government of Franco, which is absolutely inexact. � The
proof of this is the violent reaction in all the Spanish Pha-
langist press, each time that the Assembly of the United
Nations confirms the resolution of 1946. If this declaration
and this attitude of the United Nation serves not to weaken
but to strengthen the regime of Franco, the natural thing
would be that this declaration should be received with
pleasure and applauded by all the propaganda of the Fascist
regime in Spain.

THE SPANISH PEOPLE HAS HOPED IN VAIN FOR
THE HELP OF DEMOCRACIES IN THEIR LIBERATION

It is said also that this declaration and this attitude of
the United Nations has served to provoke a reaction of the
Spanish feelings, allowing the dictator the sympathy even of
those political elements most opposed to him. This state-
ment is also inexact. On the contrary, the Spanish opinion
depends always on the attitude of the United Nations with
respect to the Franquist Regime Even the slightest opposi-
tion to this regime is received with pleasure. Only the possi-
bility that the United Nations may fully recognize the Fran-
quist regime is for all democratic and liberal Spaniards a
great anxiety. In consequence, this attitude of the United
Nations cannot serve to give the Caudillo the backing of
the Spanish people. To change this attitude would have the
only result of uniting the democratic Spanish elements in
desperation, irritation and violence.

Also it is said that at the Assembly of the United Na-
tions, when this question was dealt with in April and May
of 1949, the supporters of a modification of the resolution
of 1946 were in the majority, which is not exact either. They
had not an absolute majority at the assembly, not even the
two thirds necessary for a proposal to be approved. On the
contrary, the votes against the modification, with the abs-
tention of several countries, and absences, really represent
the absolute majority of the votes of the Assembly.

It is said that Franco is not helped, that there is no in-
tention of helping Franco, but, on the contrary, of obtaining
the d�mocratisation of the Spanish regime, and that at the
same time they are trying to modify the resolution of 1946,
the Spanish people are invited to change their regime, to
evolve towards a democratic regime. This, gentlemen, is a
monstrous contradiction. If Franco is helped, and if he is
helped politically, with all the authority and all the pres-
tige of the United States, there is no sense in inviting the

can civilization, lack of feelings and moral unUy ; their
unjust aggression of Spain ; there is a moral superiority of
South America over North America.

This, is franquist Spain, abominable, bitter enemy of all
democratic solidarity, enemy of that which we call western
civilization and culture ; this is the Spain which now the
declaration of the Secretary of State of America comes to
help.

TO HELP FRANCO WOULD BE THE GRAVEST ERROR

THAT TE INTERNATIONAL POLICY OF THE UNITED

STATES COULD COMMIT

The attitude taken in the declaration of the North-
American Secretary of State separates the international po-
licy of the United States from the policy of all democratic
Europe. Democratic Europe rejects the franquist regime, as
a foreign body in the evolution of our culture, and thus of
our policy. Franco's Spain geographically forms part of
Europe, but it does not form part of it morally. And the
reaction of Europe came soon. We hear from semi-official
sources in England that the United States did not consult
her regarding Mr. Achenson's declaration, and that Great
Britain has no reason to change her policy with respect to
Franco. I have the impression, although I have not yet
received concrete news, that this is th� attitude of official
circles in France, this great and friendly country to whom
we owe so much.

I said that democratic Europe rejects Franco, and to
such an extent that even the conservative parties in Europe
are opposed to the Franquist regime. In France not only the
communists, the socialists and the catholics, such as Bidault
are opposed to Franquism, but also the supporters of Ge-
neral de Gaulle, among whom we have so illustrious defen-
ders, one of whom is the great writer Malraux, and another
is our dear personal friend Jacques de Soustelle. And in
Italy not only the socialists, from the left group of Nenni
to the moderate group of Saragat and our great republican
friends are opposed to Franco. The liberals and christian
democrats are enemies of the regime of Franco also. Here I
see before me a public declaration published in Rome last
summer, in favour of the cause of the Spanish republic, and
in which, beside the illustrious signatures of socialists and
republicans, we find the following signatures : senator Ca-
sati, of the Liberal Party ; Count Nicolo Garandino, who
has been Ambassador to London, of the Liberal Party ; and
Christian Democrats such as Adona iZoli, Senator and Chief
of the Parliamentary Group of the Christian Democrat
Party, and also Senator Quinto Tossati, who is equally one
of the most eminent members of the Christian Democrat
Party.

Democratic Europe, I repeat, rejects Franco, and the
United States by initiating this policy contrary to all the
European democracies, who cannot admit Franco, introduce
an element of discord. From this point of view, I cannot
exaggerate the gravity of such a declaration.

But there is not only Europe ; there is also America, and
for America the signification of Mr. Achenson's declaration
is a negation of all the democratic behaviour of the United
States, from the great Jeffson to Roosevelt ; it directly
contradicts the generous democratic policy with regard to
Europe, first followed by Wilson, the forerunner, and af-
terwards by that great statesman Roosevelt. It not only con-
tradicts the historic tendancy of the great North-American
democracy ; it also contradicts the democratic opinion of
the United States. In the last few weeks I have read articles
expressing the opinion that there was no reason for
changing the policy of the United States concerning Franco.
The articles were published by newspapers such as the
« New York Times » « The Herald Tribune » and « The
Post », Thus, these declarations are not only against the
democratic traditions of the United States, but also against
the present democratic opinions of the United States.

Therefore, I sincerely believe that this mistake is, in the

series of errors committed in international policy by the
United States, since the death of Roosevelt, the gravest one
of them all, much more serious than that committed with
regard to Chang-Kai-Shek and the policy in China. If this
declaration really signifies the beginning of a new United
States policy, the date of this declaration should be marked
with a black stone in the difficult road of the peoples of
all continents of the world towards their liberation. If we
were sentimentalists, "which we are not, we should say that
that day was a day of mourning for universal democracy.
As we are not sentimentalists, we confine ourselves to saying
that it could be a day of mourning for the great North-
American democracy..

But it is not only this. The United States do not only go
against democratic opinion in Europe, America and their
own country. What authority can the United States have
with regard to the South-American dictatorships if they con-
tinue this policy ? If they back the mother dictatorship,
what authority can they have before the dictatorships of
South-America ? What is the origin of those little dictators
of some unfortunate countries, which we love so much,
countries of our language, our culture and our race ?
Where do they comefrom, if not from the very centre of
Spanish fascist and reaction ? From where has come Lau-
reano Gomez who muzzles and oppresses the people of Co-
lombia, if not from Madrid, with the most up to date
teachings of the Spanish phalangism ? What authority, I
repeat, can the United States have with regard to the dic-
tatorships of America if they help the mother dictatorship,
that is Spain ?

Fortunately, there are not only dictatorships in Ame-
rica ; there are also democracies. There is the great demo-
cracy of Mexico, to whom we are so deeply in debt, and who
is chiefly responsible fort the creation of the Republican
institutions in exile. There are Guatemala, Panama, Cuba,
Chile and Uruguay. And even in the countries where dicta-
tors reign, the general opinion is contrary to fascism, and
friendly to the Spanish democracy, which is explained by
the closeness of their past. In the revolutionary movement
of Mexico, the eminent name of Juarez is united to the
illustrious name of our General Prim. In Cuba to the names
of Marti and de Maceo are joined the illustrious name of
Pi y Margall. Consequently the vicotry of the pro-Franco
attitude is not so easy ; on the contrary I believe that if
once again the problem of the recognition of Franco is put
before the United Nations, uie result will be the same as
at the Assembly of April and May 1949.

NO HELP WILL SAVE FRANCO, BUT CAN ONLY SOW
SEEDS OF COMMUNISM IN SPAIN

Fortunately, and to the honour of good sense, in this
declaration of Mr. Achenson the strategic argument is not
spoken of. It is just as well, as is would be an argument not
only without any foundation, but that could not be taken
seriously. To suppose that a country, hostile to its own Go-
vernment, which in fact abominates it, as is the case in
Spain, could be a useful combative element in an European
war, between the Occidental and the Oriental blocks, is so-
mething which it takes all our self control not to qualify
with too harsh words. To affirm that the Spanish army,
with more than 20.000 chiefs and officers (for so it is !) but
without soldiers, without arms, without barracks, without
munitions, without transport, etc., could be a useful element
in a war of this class is something which cannot be believed
for a moment, Given the case where the Soviet army
triumphally arrived at the Pyrenees � this is net to be
overlooked � given this case, it would be the sign for an
explosion in the Iberic Peninsula, and could be a surprise
for the world, which does not appear to take into account
certain facts, that Franco, this great knight of Christianity,
would probably offer his services to Stalin in the quality of
trumpeter.

And when is this aid to Franco to be given ? Precisely
not only when the regime is tottering, but also when the

regime, in virtue of a phenomenon which occurs in certain
soils, and which Victor Hugo describes so well in one of his
books, is sinking... They want to help Franco just when the
Dictator does not know which way to turn, when all our
reporters were telling us that it would not be a matter of
months nor of weeks, but of days, before the Franquist re-
gime collapsed into its own opprobium, its own misery and
its own shame.

On the other hand, useless help because the misery of
Spain does not depend on an accidental fact, nor on some
tons more or less of wheat ; the misery and the hunger of
Spain are the consequences of the immorality, of the disho-
nesty, of the immense strife, by the absence of all moral
principles in the production, distribution and consumption
of all wealth. And from this point of view, it is not only
impossible to give real and efficacious assistance to the
Spanish people, but with certain pretended or apparent help,
all that can be done is to prolong the agony and suffering of
the Spanish people unnecessarily.

And when it is said that this way they help to pacify
Spain, they make another declaration which we cannot
believe in any way. This is no way to contribute to the paci-
fication of Spain, but to the contrary. I am sure that in a
few hours, in only one day, in a few minutes, Mr. Achenson's

declaration has made more rebels and more revolutionaries
in Spain than all the communist propaganda inside and
outside the country in these last months. The United States
with this mistaken policy � I do not say it myself � it is
said by the eminent North-American Writer Walter Lip-
mann, the United States have sown the seeds of communism
in China ; the United States with this policy, which we
deplore so much, are sowing the seeds of communism in
Spain.

And I arrive, gentlemen, at th� last words which I had
proposed to say before you this afternoon. In such a situa-
tion the Republican Governement in exile thinks only of
intensifying its struggle against the Franquist regime, and
in favour of the advent in Spain of democracy, which cannot
have � of this we are absolutely convinced � other ex-
pression than that of the Republic. Our firmness will make
up for the lack of means, produced by the abandonment of
those who have so many reasons for helping us, until the
hour of victory. Thus, we continue each day with more
optimism than ever ; And in this attitude we shall persist
until Democracy and the Republic are established in Spain,
the only regime, the only atmosphere in which national
coexistence is possible and within it peace, liberty and jus-
tice.

Imprimerie S.P.I. 4, Rue Saulnier. Paris



regime, in virtue of a phenomenon which occurs in certain soils, and which Victor Hugo describes so well in one of his books, is sinking... They want to help Franco just when the Dictator does not know which way to turn, when all our reporters were telling us that it would not be a matter of months nor of weeks, but of days, before the Franquist re- gime collapsed into its own opprobium, its own misery and its own shame. On the other hand, useless help because the misery of Spain does not depend on an accidental fact, nor on some tons more or less of wheat ; the misery and the hunger of Spain are the consequences of the immorality, of the disho- nesty, of the immense strife, by the absence of all moral principles in the production, distribution and consumption of all wealth. And from this point of view, it is not only impossible to give real and efficacious assistance to the Spanish people, but with certain pretended or apparent help, all that can be done is to prolong the agony and suffering of the Spanish people unnecessarily. And when it is said that this way they help to pacify Spain, they make another declaration which we cannot believe in any way. This is no way to contribute to the paci- fication of Spain, but to the contrary. I am sure that in a few hours, in only one day, in a few minutes, Mr. Achenson's
			declaration has made more rebels and more revolutionaries in Spain than all the communist propaganda inside and outside the country in these last months. The United States with this mistaken policy � I do not say it myself � it is said by the eminent North-American Writer Walter Lip- mann, the United States have sown the seeds of communism in China ; the United States with this policy, which we deplore so much, are sowing the seeds of communism in Spain. And I arrive, gentlemen, at th� last words which I had proposed to say before you this afternoon. In such a situa- tion the Republican Governement in exile thinks only of intensifying its struggle against the Franquist regime, and in favour of the advent in Spain of democracy, which cannot have � of this we are absolutely convinced � other ex- pression than that of the Republic. Our firmness will make up for the lack of means, produced by the abandonment of those who have so many reasons for helping us, until the hour of victory. Thus, we continue each day with more optimism than ever ; And in this attitude we shall persist until Democracy and the Republic are established in Spain, the only regime, the only atmosphere in which national coexistence is possible and within it peace, liberty and jus- tice.


		^-0 yj

	Imprimerie S.P.I. 4, Rue Saulnier. Paris