Francoist Spain and the 1946 UN Resolution

UN Resolution of 1946 and Francoist Spain

The proposed commentary is an excerpt from a resolution, i.e., a solemn public statement, issued by the General Assembly of the United Nations (the representative body of all member countries) on 12 September 1946. This was the same year that Spain sought entry into the body. It is an official document of a political nature, directed at all nations that had ambassadors in Madrid and at world public opinion. It serves as a primary source on the external relations of Franco's Spain. The first meeting took place in San Francisco in 1945.

The Fascist Character of the Franco Regime

In this text, the UN first defines the Franco regime as a fascist state, relating it to Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany. It also demonstrates the aid the Axis powers gave to Franco during World War II. Spain had remained aloof from the war at first, declaring itself non-belligerent, but this did not prevent the Franco government from maintaining an attitude close to the fascist powers. The expedition was formed of 20,000 volunteers, mostly young Falangists. After the fall of Mussolini and the landing of Allied troops in Tunisia and Italy in 1943, Franco's government ordered the return of the Blue Division.

Diplomatic Isolation and Economic Blockade

To isolate the regime, the UN recommended withdrawing ambassadors from Spain. Spain lived some of the worst moments in its history following the French border closure and the subsequent withdrawal of ambassadors from almost all member countries. The implementation of the agreement marked a diplomatic and economic blockade. This was mitigated in part by:

• Aid from U.S. business groups
• French and British interests in Spain
• The work of some U.S. congressional Republicans
• The support of Perón's Argentina, which attenuated the hunger of millions of Spaniards with continued shipments of food

The Cold War and International Integration

It was late 1947 when changes in the attitude of the United Nations concerning Spain began to emerge. The beginning of the Cold War between the victors in April 1945 gave new perspectives to the Franco regime, facilitating its recognition by the international community. Key international events, such as the Truman Doctrine, the Prague coup, and the Korean War, assisted the Franco regime. Given its anti-communist fervor, Spain gained acceptance from the United States and its European allies.

The 1953 agreements signed with the United States were the end of a long process of talks, though the agreement was not reached in time for Spain to enter fully into the Marshall Plan. In 1953, Spain also signed the Concordat with the Holy See to legitimize the regime before the international community. Finally, in 1955, Franco's Spain was admitted to the UN, and in 1959, the visit of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower marked the definitive end of its international isolation.