journal of european integration history revue d'histoire de l ...

50
Birgit Aschmann
the most loyal allies. Spain’s representatives did not limit themselves to condemning
the Soviet system in general, which since the Spanish Civil War had symbolised
for them the Anti-Christ. Moreover, the delegates of Franco Spain took advantage
of each opportunity to denounce at international organisations, on behalf of
the Federal Republic, the German partition. 50
Since both the Federal Republic and Spain had been admitted to the Organisation
of the United Nations (UNO) in 1955 the German issue belonged to the standard
repertoire of Spanish speakers in all the UNO bodies. In this connection one
could not help thinking that Spain and the Federal Republic had reached a sort of
tacit deal that consisted in speaking on behalf of each other’s most important foreign
issues. The link between the intercession of the Federal Republic in favour of
the rapprochement of Spain to Europe and the commitment of Spain in favour of
West-Germany’s claim to sole representation becomes all the more obvious, as
both aspects coincided in common communiqués, in speeches and in the reports of
the Embassies. 51 The altruistic striving to do each other a favour in return went together
with most pragmatic considerations. Via Spain they also expected to gain influence
on the Arabian and above all on the Latin-American states, whose vote at
UNO quantitatively alone was considerable. 52 Spanish minister Solís made, during
his visit to Germany in 1959, the proposal of building up in these countries a “climate
that would be favourable to Germany”. 53
As the international relevance of the German issue began to diminish, Spain’s
support became all the more important. This was revealed by the fact, that on one
side the Germans overwhelmed the Spanish with declarations of friendship and on
the other side began to ask them explicitly to defend West Germany’s position. In
May 1965 ambassador Allardt complained that hardly a week passed “without having
to present to the Spanish minister of Foreign affairs a request of the Federal
Government asking them to pronounce in international organisations against the
acknowledgement of the Soviet Occupation Zone, and hardly a day went by without
the Spanish press referring to the absurdity of the German partition”. 54 The
German requests being carried out promptly, the Federal Republic in return was
50. PAAA Abt. 2, Ref. 200/8: “Die spanische Regierung hat den Bitten der Bundesregierung, in internationalen
Organisationen unseren politischen Standpunkt in der Frage der Nichtanerkennung der
sogenannten DDR zu unterstützen, bereitwillig entsprochen”, 11 July 1956; PAAA Ref. 206/163:
“Aufzeichnung über Spanien und die Beziehungen zwischen der Bundesrepublik und Spanien”,
instructions for ambassador von Welck, 1958; and PAAA Ref. 206/162: The explanation of the
Spanish plenipotentiary in the general debate of the United Nations after the Berlin-crisis 1961,
annual report on the year 1961 by Ambassador von Welck, 16 January 1962.
51. PAAA I A 4/391: Common communiqué on the occasion of the visit of the German minister of
Foreign affairs Schröder to Spain in March 1966 and related documents. Significantly, in an after-dinner
speech, Schröder brought up his gratitude to the Spanish commitment against the GDR,
immediately after which he honoured the “great and significant role of Spain in European history”.
52. PAAA Ref. 206/163: Instructions for ambassador von Welck, op.cit., 1958.
53. PAAA Ref. 206/165: Minutes on conversation with Federal minister von Merkatz, 16 June 1959.
54. PAAA I A 4/318: “Zeigen der Flagge der spanischen Republik bei Maifeier in Berlin”, Allardt to
the Federal ministry of Foreign affairs, 29 May 1965.