Stranica 4 [4]
OCR
—-, Bi Ry w isssz b d 195. ‘‘ : ra söt "Tess k my a. [A tees & 4e ‘tenacity, Franco is eliminating one after another, the _ more aggressive Falangist leaders, and is replacing them by people more close to his personal views, Even in the | Cabinet the votes of the Falangist Ministers do no longer count mich, and their tnelioned on policy shaping is close to nil, Even the once powerful Fernandez Cuesta has been reduced to the status of a Minister without Portfolio, and his msin activities consist of attending memorial celebrations of the Party, and of making speeches. By this same token, the young progressive Catholic group, whose spiritual leader ís Bishop Angel Herrera, of Malaga, is gaining considerable ground, ‘his is marked not only on the Cabinet level, but also very clearly on the level of provineial governors, for instance, where more and more the extreme Falangists are replaced by progressive Catholics. the power of that group, and its prestige, was greatly enhanced by the success of Foreign Minister Don Alberto de Martin Artajo, not only in the relations to the United States, but also during his trip to the Arab countries. Tis trip was quite a success, despite what the Press has been saying. Agreements were passed which, while not in the form of treaties, are still a political reality, One can now speak clearly of a Spanish-Arab bloc, and this bloc will negotiate with the United States through the Spaniards; therefore Spain has gained a sieathkaih of political prominence. which it would be a grave error to under-estimate. Artajo is skilfully carrying on that policy, and has gained great popularity by it. eee tő talk that at a coming re-shuffling of the Cabinet, he might leave his present post in order to become a Prime Minister, a position not filled under the present structure. Whether this will come, is open to question, because in my feeling, Franco. until it has been decided what solution will be found on , 98 he
