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Show EDITORIAL: Recognition Of Franco After using astute judgment in refusing to help Chiang Kai-shek Kai-shek hold on to Formosa, the Truman administration then reverses re-verses its policy, and seeks to rescue another bankrupt dictator Fiancisco Franco of Spain. Secretary of State Dean Ache-son Ache-son realized the impossibility of helping Chiang' out of his difficulties, diffi-culties, short of armed intervention, inter-vention, which might have meant war. Less drastic steps would have been futile. The Secretary Sec-retary realizes that no tyrant can hold power when his people peo-ple are against him and can find means of throwing off the shackles. To rid themselves of Chiang, millions of Chinese were happy to embrace the dream of Communism and its Chinese prophet, Mao. What then could be the reason rea-son for the sudden turn about face in the case of Franco? Is it possible that Acheson figures Spain might make a valuable addition to the North Atlantic Pact by anchoring the southern defense line against possible Russian aggression and the spread of Communism? Why else this sudden interest i n Franco's continued good health? In case of war it is doubtful Russian aggression could be checked by an army fortified in the Pyrenees mountains. Because Be-cause of antequated means of transportation, it would be difficult dif-ficult to marshal troops effectively effec-tively in Spain. The railroads are outdated, run down. Other means of transportation scarcely exist. Thanks to Franco, the country is impoverished, and would make a shabby war-time ally. If left to fend for himself, Franco's days are numbered. His regime is now almost bankrupt. bank-rupt. Only the bayonet keeps him in power. The Spanish people peo-ple await an opportunity to turn on him, as the Chinese did in the case of Chiang. Recognition of the Franco dictatorship, even through the U. N., would probably prob-ably lead to financial aid, with the result of perpetuating him in power indefinitely. The Spanish Span-ish people, slaves under Franco, would naturally resent any attempt at-tempt to prop up Franco. Efforts Ef-forts to save Chiang were futile, because his case became hopeless hope-less once the people found a way to dethrone him. They preferred pre-ferred Communism and totali-tarionism totali-tarionism to Chiang and slavery. The ending of the boycott against Franco would have one more serious repercussion. Recognition Rec-ognition of a dictator who owes his present position to the intervention in-tervention of Hitler and Mussolini Musso-lini in the Spanish Civil war would give the U. S. a black eye throughout the world. Such gross hypocrisy preaching freedom while supporting Franco Fran-co would not be overlooked by the people of vast areas of Asia, struggling to free themselves them-selves from tyranny and want, many of whom look upon America Amer-ica and the American way of life as' the' only hope for the future. To maintain appearances, Uncle Sam must keep his whiskers whis-kers clean. And he is liable to get them, soiled palling around with Franco. GWH |