Talk Around the Bases

Trudeau was not Washington's only important foreign visitor last week. Spain also had a touchy topic: the renegotiation of the lease giving the U.S. one naval and three airbases in Spain since 1953. As the expiration date approached, Foreign Minister Fernando Maria Castiella y Maiz flew to Washington to meet President Nixon and State Department officials. They hacked out an "agreement in principle" to hold the lease open while talk continues. The airbases are no longer essential, but Rota is an important base for Polaris submarines. Bargaining broke down with Spain wanting $700 million in military aid and the U.S. offering $140 million. Lately, however, the gap has narrowed. Spain is believed to be asking near $300 million, the U.S. going nearer $200 million. Nixon would like to keep the bases. And naturally, the Franco regime likes both the protection and the spending of 25,000 Americans.

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