Trouble

"Don't look now, Francisco," enemies of Generalissimo Franco chuckled last week, "but there's a big Bear behind you."

From Moscow's Red Star had come an authoritative growl: "Generalissimo Francisco Franco's regime is an international problem that must be dealt with." Dictator Franco "and his German masters must understand that, having finished with the Germans, the United Nations will solve the Spanish problem also."

Almost as disturbing to Spain's pudgy dictator were two lines in the London Daily Express, organ of Prime Minister Winston Churchill's great friend (and Lord Privy Seal) Lord Beaverbrook: "If Britain is wise she will allow the Spanish situation to evolve without active interference on her part. By so doing Britain will be able to take any advantage that may be offered by a change without assuming responsibility for its defects, its crimes or even its continued existence."

Two Juntas & a Constellation. Britain's disclaimer, Moscow's growl, and the fact that one subject of conversation between Marshal Stalin and General de Gaulle (see above) would almost certainly be Generalissimo Franco, gave importance for the first time to the anti-Franco forces now loudly concentrating against the dictator in Mexico and Europe. They included two juntas and a constellation of politicos ranging from extreme leftists to royalists. But each of the juntas and most of the individuals detested each other almost as much as they did Franco.

In Mexico City the exiled members of the Republican Cortes had been ordered to assemble on Jan. 10 by Diego Martinez-Barrio, last president of the Cortes and leader of the Junta Espanola de Liberation. Included in this junta were leaders of the Center, Moderate Left, Catalonian Anarchists. Excluded were the Communists. Its guiding intelligence was Indalecio Prieto, right-wing Socialist and onetime Minister of War in the Spanish Republican Government. The junta's most important asset: an almost legendary cargo of Spanish gold, silver bars, securities, bullion, jewels, shipped to Mexico when the Spanish Republic fell.

Underground, in Madrid, was the Junta Suprema de Union National. Its leading spirits were Communists. Its most visible members: the armed Spaniards of the French F.F.I.

Two Politicians & a Visitation. In London was Dr. Juan Negrin, left-wing Socialist, last premier of the Spanish Republic. During Spain's civil war Dr. Negrin had ousted anti-Communist War Minister Prieto with the help of the Russians. Now he seemed anxious to make peace with Prieto.

In Paris was Miguel Maura. A conservative and former Minister of the Interior, Maura was busy calling on people like French Foreign Minister Georges Bidault (a Catholic who supported the Republic during the civil war) and Franco's representative, Jose de Sangroniz. Maura hoped to negotiate a peaceful transfer of power from Franco to a republic.

The royalists were busy too. From London, Spain's ex-Queen Victoria Eugenie had flown to Switzerland for talks with her son, the Pretender Don Juan, great-grandson of England's Queen Victoria. Monarchists believed that the Queen had first talked with Winston Churchill.

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