The West German Foreign Minister, Dr. Schroder, undertook last week a friendly and diplomatic visit to Spain and Portugal to negotiate over flying rights for the Luftwaffe to and from the Western Gerwan NATO base now being built at Beja. According to the "Guardian" report, the Franco regime was not so eager to concede the overflying rights as the West Germans might have expected. The Spanish Foreign Minister, Mr. Castiella, stated that his Government "wuld gladly come to an understanding with those nations which had a ‘positive’ and ‘noble' attitude towards Spain, which presumably inchudes West Germany." However, Spanish newspapers hinted that some of West Germany's allies were not so ‘positive’ and'noble', and that this created difficulties. It appears that a bargain will be struck whereby the overflying rights will be granted if West Germany manages to speed up the negotiations between Spain and the Coumon Market. The final communique issued states that West Germany would try to do this, and also refers to a ‘strengthening during recert years of the traditional friendship between Spain and the Federal Republic." Dr. Schroder was presented with the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella. Dr. Schroder's visit to Portugal was apparently mre immediately successful. Dr. Salazar is no doubt mre than pleased about the recent West German attitude towards Portugal. The extent of Garman military and econowic aid which is used to suppress the liberation mvement in the Portuguese colonies far exceeds that of any other country. Ibst of Germany's light aumunition is now made in Portugal, and West German capital investmmt in Portuguese industries is now quickly overtaking that of traditional investors, which were the British firms. As a result of all this it is sm1l wonder that the Portuguese Government was not reluctant to grant an eir-force base to the Luftwaffe at Beja. It is perhaps significant that Beja was, in 1962, the scene of Bortugal's first attempt at an armed uprising against the Salazar regime.
LONDON ©.S.5. A Date for Your Diary
7.30 pm., Friday, April 15th.
"Adam's Arms", Conway Street, London, W.1.
. (nearest. Underground, Warren Street)
Subject : RHODSSEA — WHAT NEXT ?
With one tanker at Beira, another at Durban, several more reputed at sea, and with the African States growing increasingly exasperated, the forthcoming London C.S.E, meeting could scarcely be wre topical. The subject deserves the widest possible audience, and "Week" subscribers in the area are asked to play their part in publicising the meeting.
_ eae