33

2—A2

On the other hand, many speakers felt that last year's resolution had, indeed, only resulted in strengthening Franco's regime and that any stronger resolution would not lead to a solution of the Spanish problem, but would rather, in the words of Mr Fahy (United States), " provide additional occasions for appeals to the national pride of the Spanish people which would tend to consolidate the Spanish Government of which the United Nations disapproved." There was a strong feeling in the Committee that there was no justification in the Charter for economic sanctions against Spain, which constituted only a latent threat to the peace, and that such sanctions would, in any case, force economic misery on the Spanish people. This group, in the main, considered that the General Assembly should neither retreat nor advance in the matter. Mr Castro (El Salvador) maintained his last year's objections to any action being taken by the United Nations. Proposals for breaking off economic relations and even communications with Spain would amount, in his opinion, to an invitation to civil war in that country. The United Nations, he said, was intended to work for peace and international order, and not to undertake the " ominous task " of spreading ill-will and interfering in the internal affairs of any country. The draft resolutions submitted to the Committee reflected the views of the various participants in the general discussion. These proposals (and amendments) were as follows : (1) A Polish resolution recommending to the Security Council that it consider within a month and take adequate measures in conformity with Article 41 of the Charter, in order to remedy the present situation according to the resolution of 12 December, 1946. A Yugoslav amendment to this draft sought to insert the words " particularly measures of an economic nature." (2) A joint resolution submitted by Cuba, Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, and Uruguay reaffirmed last year's resolution and expressed confidence that the Security Council would exercise its responsibilities under the Charter " should it consider that the situation in regard to Spain so required." (3) A joint resolution presented by the delegations of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands expressed regret that the recommendation to all member States to recall their diplomatic representatives from Madrid " has not been fully applied" and confidence that the Security Council " will exercise its responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace and security as soon as the Spanish situation should require the adoption of measures."