852.20/5–2449
Paper Prepared by the Foreign Assistance Correlation Committee1
MAP D–G/6b
Why Spain Is Not Included in MAP
The most important consideration in omitting any provision for military assistance to Spain is the political effect which such aid would have in Western Europe. Official and public opinion in various Western European countries is slowly becoming more favorable toward readmission of Spain into the international community. Many non-Communist elements in Western Europe, whose support we desire in providing for the security of Western Europe and the North Atlantic area, have, however, a strong repugnance for Franco. Any spectacular developments in US-Spanish relations would make it more difficult not only for this Government but also for the Western European Governments gradually to bring about Spain’s readmission. These elements oppose Spanish participation in the defense arrangements for these areas and would object to US military assistance to Spain. Such assistance would also expose them, as well as many of the Governments of Western Europe, to most embarrassing Soviet propaganda which would be greatly strengthened if military assistance were extended to Spain by the United States.
As long as Spain is not a participant in the defense arrangements of Western Europe, any move to provide military assistance to Spain outside the scope of these arrangements would be immediately interpreted in Western Europe as undercutting the basic principle of those programs. Furthermore, military assistance to Spain would be readily construed as a design on the part of the United States Government to establish the real line of defense on the Pyrenees, thus abandoning the Western European nations whose defense plans the Military Assistance Program is designed to strengthen. The fear in Western Europe, particularly in France, that this may be the intention of the United States is real and any encouragement of it could have very serious consequences.
Although Spain is an integral part of Western Europe, the Spanish Government is still, for reasons associated with its origin, nature and history, regarded as a politically undesirable associate by many of the Western European nations, particularly as a partner in such cooperative projects as the North Atlantic Treaty and the Brussels Pact. [Page 749] While the military authorities in many of these countries desire the earliest possible integration of Spain into the defense arrangements of Western Europe, most of the Governments consider public acceptance of Spain politically impossible at this time.
It is our policy to integrate Spain politically, economically and militarily into the Western community so that Spain may once again play its logical role in this group. However, it is our opinion that the full realization of this objective will be difficult if not impossible without substantial changes within Spain. We have taken every opportunity, therefore, to emphasize to the Spanish Government that, in every way, the best interests of Spain require evolution toward democratic government and we are continuing our efforts to convince the Spaniards of the soundness of this point of view. As the Secretary of State emphasized in a statement to the press on May 11, the integration of Spain into the Western community is not an objective that can be achieved; by the US alone, but one which must be worked out in cooperation with the Western European Governments and with Spain. US policy toward Spain must have due regard, therefore, for the effect US actions will have in Western Europe. It is consequently the Department’s feeling that a move at this time to provide direct military assistance to Spain outside the MAP for Western Europe would jeopardize rather than promote our basic policies in Western Europe.
- Documentation on the formation and activities of the Foreign Assistance Correlation Committee is scheduled for publication in volume i.↩