from G.D.R. report
"We stand on Franco's side!" said Dr. Hans-Joachim von Morkatz, a Vicst Gorman Cabinet minister, on June 24th while on a trip to Madrid. "The Federal Government welcomes warmly the European course of Spain's political line. The great moral and cconomic efforts of Spain, which promote order, progress and stability in Europe, must necossarily be greeted with satisfaction," he said adding that West German domocracy and Spanish authority wore not opposites but complem ented each other.
Minister von Merkatz, a member of Adonauor's Christian Democratic Union, is in chargo of Government relations with the Bundesrat (Upper House) and the provincial governments in the West German cabinet. During tho war Morkatz, a former Nazi Party member, worked in Hitler's Iboro-American Institute, which organised ospionage in Spain, Portugal and Latin Amorica. Ho has a long record of backing every reactionary cause he can find.
Aftor the uproar caused by press roports of Morkatz! statement, West Gorman Press Chief Ickardt stated that Merkatz was not on an official govern ment visit to Madrid. Ho did not express disagreement with Merkatz' viows.