35

2*—A 2

To these arguments the answer was made that it was useless for the United Nations to continue to pass verbal condemnations of Franco, and that if the Spanish people were to be encouraged to rid themselves of the regime, its general condemnation should be made manifest through the severance of diplomatic relations. Mexico, and a number of Central American States, took the view that, quite apart from the possible value of the severance of diplomatic relations as a means of pressure upon the Franco Government, such severance was merely the logical completion by the members of the United Nations, in their individual relations with Spain, of the action which they had taken collectively through the condemnation expressed at San Francisco and London. Opponents of the severance of diplomatic relations included not only those who objected on principle to the application of any means of pressure, but also those who thought that the result would be harmful in that useful contacts with Spain would be lost. It was generally agreed by most delegates that there was little point in discussing proposals for breaking economic relations unless the Powers on whom it would chiefly lie to make such a break effective themselves concurred. Finally, a sub-committee was set up consisting of the authors of resolutions or amendments to resolutions, and the permanent members of the Security Council—namely, Belgium, Byelo-Russia, Chile ; China, Colombia, Cuba, France, Guatemala, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela, Yugoslavia. The sub-committee reported back to the Committee the following draft resolution : " The peoples of the United Nations, at San Francisco, Potsdam, and London, condemned the Franco regime in Spain and decided that, as long as that regime remains, Spain may not be admitted to the United Nations. " The General Assembly in its resolution of 9 February, 1946, recommended that the members of the United Nations should act in accordance with the letter and the spirit of the declarations of San Francisco and Potsdam. " The people of the United Nations assure the Spanish people of their enduring sympathy and of the cordial welcome awaiting them when circumstances enable them to be admitted to the United Nations. " The General Assembly recalls that in May and June, 1946, the Security Council conducted an investigation of the possible further action to be taken by the United Nations. The sub-committee of the Security Council charged with the investigation found unanimously : " ' (a) In origin, nature, structure, and general conduct, the Franco regime is a Fascist regime patterned on, and established largely as a result of aid received from Hitler's Nazi Germany and Mussolini's Fascist Italy. " ' (b) During the long struggle of the United Nations against Hitler and Mussolini, Franco, despite continued Allied protests, gave very substantial aid to the enemy Powers. First, for example,