OVER HALF A million people took to the streets of the Spanish state last week to protest against Reagan's visit to the country. At the same time a survey in the left wing daily El Pais spelt disaster for Socialist Prime Felipe Gonzalez in his drive to hold Spain in NATO. The poll shows: • 54 per cent want Spain to get out of NATO. • 66 per cent want the US to quit its Spanish bases. • 64 per cent think that America is not a 'reliable ally of Spain'. • only 19 per cent favour Spanish integration into NATO.
There demonstrations nearly all major cities. organisers claimed 500,000, while in Barcelona even the police figure of 225,000. El Pais reports that 50-60,000 demonstrated in Valencia LAST WEEKEND'S Bonn summit was marked by the public row over Reagan's cemetery with the graves of Hitler's SS included. The visit had a deep sybolic meaning, and a real political significance.
The Bonn summit itself saw an important split in attitudes between France and West Germany over Star Wars and trade. DICK CARTER looks at background to Bitburg and the Bonn summit — and at their connection.
From a public relations point of view, Reagan's visit to Bitburg was a disaster for the US president. But it was a necessary price to pay for the fact that Reagan is now prepared to play with one of the most reactionary forces in Europe: of right wing German nationalism.
Bonn summit itself dominated by increasing over trade and the issue of America's Star Wars project. Both these came together for the United States in its relations with West Germany. ween them they gave far more than purely a symbolic significance to Bitburstarting with the economic issues at the Bonn summit, the United States finds itself today facing a dilemma. American industry, hampered by an overvalued dollar, is being easily defeated in international comnedition at bresent DY Japanese and West German industry. But the US still has decisive advantages in the field of agricultural exports and the service sector - abore all internationa. Iinance.
American economic policy simple. wants a rapid liberalisation of trade in sectors other than manufacturing, it can bring to bear its competitive edge in these fields. In particular this means allowing the US financial sector to penetrate the Japanese market, using the United agricultural advantage A chief demand of the US toliberalisation of all areas of international trade.
country.
reservation', Minister Tom Frinking assembly, headaches this will full In Madrid the scarcely be more dramatic.
gave a Bitburg and smaller numbers in the Basque Chanting 'NATO no, bases out' without blackmail', 'no blockade', and even 'Indians to power, Yankees to the the demonstrations included the whole spectrum of Spanish KOme political opinion. In Madrid a discreet contingent from the Socialist Party's left wing marched under the slogan "Towards a left and socialist foreign policy: disarmament yes, NATO no.
An internal report by Dutch MP to the forthcoming which meets in Stuttgart on 17 May, highlights the Cause The report estimates that 98 per cent of Spanish parliamentary deputies are in favour of NATO. The contrast with public opinion could Gonzalez has had to commit the Socialist Party to a referendum — on NATO membership. He thinks he can win. He intends to link membership NATO to EEC integration which makes nonsense of the idea that the EEC 1s a purely economic undertaking and once again proves that support for America's war drive is an unwritten clause of the Treaty But Gonzalez wants to arrange a partial compromise by persuading the USA not to cut down on its bases, the hottest bone of contention. There are four bases and 12-13,000 US troops in Spain. But as the Financial Times reported on 8 May, 'Spanish membership of NATO makes little sense from a military point of view if the bases cannot operate efficiently. importance to the Americans and to NATO is its role as a staging post betAmerica the potential theatre of war in Europe. Reagan with Spanish president Gonzales during his recent visit French newspaper Le Monde reports Gonzalez' suggestion of reductions in the American presence in Spain met with 'frosty Washington.' No wonder then that of NATO heads are unhappy about the referendum. It seems that ballots are alright for smashing democrats but not such a good idea when it comes to deciding whether to die for Uncle Ronnie. Not surprising, therefore, that the Socialist reception up their will.
hostile to precedent Party already has beer bullied by Gonzalez into accepting his position on NATO, since the other major parties are right wing, and since no other parliamentary party opposes NATO except the fragmented Communist Party, this would be a complete fraud with no real oportunity people of Spain to impost