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September 28, 1967 - Image 10

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Michigan Daily, 1967-09-28

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

PAGE TEN

THE MICHIGAN DAILY

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28,1967

CAGE TEN TilE MICIIIbAN DAILY THU RSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1967

1963 AGREEMENT ENDS:
Strategic Necessity To Decide
Future of U.S. Bases in Spain

4

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MADRIA, Spain UP)-How much
is an air base in Spain worth?
What's the current price on a used
navy base in a good condition?
.These questions are up for an-
swer in 1968, with Spain and the
United States each having a-dif-
ferent idea. To make the settling
of price more complicated, two
factions within each country may
have separate concepts, each tug-
ging against the other.
On the final answer depends
the future of the U.S. Air Force
bases at Torrejon, a few miles
northeast of Madrid, and Moron,
near Sevilla. Also at stake is the
future of the U.S. naval base at
Rota at the Bay of Cadiz.
Military factions of both coun-
tries seem likely - to campaign to
keep the bases going.
Civilian officials of both coun-
tries may take a more hardnosed
attitude in the kind of horse-
tradng that has one or the other
declaring, "this is the final offer,"
several times before agreement is
reached.
Many people argue the bases
'aren't necessary to proper defense
of U.S. interests and that the Tor-
rejon and Moron bases aren't stra-
tegic these days.
"This is nonsense," says a high-
ranking Air Force officer. "Of
course the bases remain strategic.
They're just as strategic now as
they were."
"The Spaniards know just how
important these bases are," said
another Air Force officer. "You
can bet Munoz Grandes knows the
score." Capt. Gen. Agustin Munoz
Grandes is a National Council
member and former vice president.
"It's up to Spain," said one in-
formed source. "It's up to Spain

to decide if it wants the bases.
If it doesn't, the U.S. will get out."
"There will be adjustments, of
course," this source said, "and
we're prepared to make them."
It was his view that the bases
had lost urgency, even the naval
installation at Rota, a service base
for Polaris submarines. The subs
would lose two days if they switch-
ed service to Holy Loch base in
Scotland.
In the agreement that originally
set up the bases and their renewal
in 1963, the price was economic-
massive U.S. aid economically and
militarily.
The price this time, unofficial
reports indicate, will be, principally
political, open U.S. support in a
number of touchy areas.
Among reported desires, none
confirmed by the Spanish govern-
ment is sponsorhip of Spain's en-
try into the European Common
Market and into NATO, the North

against Britain on the Gibraltar
question.
It's doubtful if the Spaniards
would seek the first. The United
States has not done Britain much
good in this respect and with Pres-
ident Charles de Gaulle of France
feeling the way he does, U.S. spon-
sorship could be the kiss of death
for Spain's common market hopes.
Gibraltar is just about as im-
possible for Uncle Sam, who would
put himself in the middle of a
fight which has been going on for
25 years.
About the only reported price
the United States can pay aside
from dollars is membership in
NATO. In view of the feelings
some NATO members have about
authoritarian governments, this
might not be easy but it ranks as
possible.
It all gets back to the question
of how much an air base in Spain
is worth-but the odds are that
the bases will not be dismantled.

W aiThTo ai

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i

Atlantic alliance,

plus backingI

--

.POLITICS

CITIZENS FOR NEW,

Meeting Tonight, 8:00
ANN ARBOR PUBLIC LIBRARY
S. Fifth Ave. and William St.

I

DISCUSSION:
GETTING ON THE BALLOT
BEGINNING A CAMPAIGN

I

v _ _ 1

I

4

4

You will, and you'll know its significance in the state capital, to the
lawmakers, and to various political factions as well, if you follow
the news of government in this newspaper.
The big stories from everywhere are here: the latest from Saigon;
new rulings from the Supreme Court; scientific advances in the war
against disease; and the news about the City Council and the Uni-
versity community.
How do we do it every day? With our own staff of reporters right
here, and the Associated Press everywhere else in the world.

I

ClE3 Ulel7b. lUlr&C U DAIGiY %AWJ41V11*7tib &&%.FA& J64%Aca.

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