Big Day for Franco

The rains had been kind, and the harvests big. After four parched years, in which discontent grew, 1951 had been a bumper year, and crop prospects were excellent again. Last week Francisco Franco had cheering news for his hard-pressed people: they could throw away the ration cards which they have been using ever since he came to power.

It was a big day for Franco. Just three years ago, his people were restless, and he was a dictator at bay; the U.N. had just voted to continue its diplomatic boycott of his regime. Opening the Cortes (Parliament), he had denounced the "Masonic-Marxist-Communist" bloc at the U.N. and blustered that "our rights stand above an assembly which has no authority over us." A patter of unconvinced applause greeted his remarks.

Last week, three years later to the day, the Cortes again assembled in the lofty, ivory & pink chamber. Spotted among the Procuradores (Deputies) were skull-capped bishops in wine-colored robes and bemedaled generals. In the galleries were resplendent high-ranking diplomats who had boycotted the session three years ago.

Escorted by prancing Moorish lancers, a black limousine drove up to the Cortes building, and from it stepped a brisk and confident Francisco Franco. Gone was his nervous and high-pitched manner. Inside the chamber Franco put on his spectacles and began reading. Spain's chief spoke like no dictator but like a board chairman reporting to his stockholders. Business prospects were good; he had decided to conclude economic and military agreements with the U.S.; prices were coming down; rationing would end in a few weeks. After 45 minutes, amidst prolonged applause, he folded his spectacles and drove back to the royal palace.

The economic situation he described as good could only be so measured by Spain's standards; but at least it was dramatic improvement, and there was a noticeable decline in anti-Franco sentiment inside Spain. Agile Francisco Franco, junior and lone-surviving member of Europe's prewar fascist dictators, seemed to be in better shape than at any time in his 13 years in office.

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