Repeat Performance?

Virtually unnoticed by the U.S. press last week was the arrival in Washington of tall, thin Colonel Juan Beigbeder, emissary of Franco's Government in Spain. Ex-Foreign Minister, ex-High Commissioner of Spanish Morocco and present member of Franco's General Staff, he was welcomed by the State Department as a United Nations friend and an indicator that Fascist General Franco now expects a United Nations victory. His purpose: to discuss with U.S. military chiefs the situation in North Africa.

The thought of Hitler's taking over Spain lies heavily on Allied minds. Colonel Beigbeder was known as anti-Nazi and pro-Allied, and his experience as Moroccan administrator made his advice valuable. But Franco is cagey, and he has carefully watched the events in French North Africa since the Allied landing. In Washington a story circulated that Colonel Beigbeder had come to lay the foundations of a "Free Spain" in case the Nazis invaded his home country. If he succeeded, and the Nazis did take over Spain, the parallel with French North Africa would be complete.

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