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Recent
Events foretell
e Destin
o
General Franco has named
a successor
-
Prince Juan
Carlos .
Sorne
expect his
coronation may take place
in April. Where is Spain
headed from here? And what
about the powerful, little–
known organization called
Opus Dei, which is now begin–
ning to exert an influence
on
the Spanish government?
by
Raymond F. McNair
Madrid, Spain
B
IG NEWS
is being made in Spain.
Spain - the land of olives,
citrus fruits, grapes and wines, of
bull-fighters, dark-eyed señoritas and
sunny tourist resorts - is suddenly
throwing off the shackles of authori–
tarian isolationism.
Madrid, the capital, is a modern,
hustling, bustling city.
Everywhere one senses that Spain is
destined to play an important role in
shaping the destiny of Europe.
Ambassador Collego Photo
GENERAL FRANCO -
Head of
State and Premier of Spain.
T he Big Questions
Important guestions are arising in the
minds of newsmen the world over who
visit Spain.
WiU Spain join the prosperous Corn–
mon Market?
Will she succeed in ousting Britain
from Gibraltar?
Who wiU succeed General Franco
when he passes from the scene?
If
Prince Juan Carlos succeeds General
Franco, what política! line will Spain's
new king follow? How will he steer
Spain's 33,000,000 people m the
uncertain '70s?
Above aH, what is the little-known
but powerful organization known as
Opus Dei
(meaning Work of God)?
This organizatioo has recently ousted
tht long-entrenched Falangist (Fascist)
party from supreme power! How did
Opm Dei
leaders manage to get mem–
bers of their group placed in top
positions in the Spanish government?
A Bloodl ess Revolutioo
Aging General Franco, ruler of Spain
for over 30 years, reaJizes bis age. He
is now 77 years old. His health is
reportedly failing. And he has begun
taking steps to insure a safe, non-violent
transfer of authority from himself to
his successors.
Ever since General Franco assumed
absolute power he has ruled that nation
with a strong hand. Now he can see
forces in his country which could, after
his departure, tear Spain apart in
another horrible Civil War. He doesn' t
want this to happen again.
In 1966 he saw to
it
that the Spanish
Co,.tes
(Congress or Parliament) passed
a law which would give the powers he
now holds to
two
successors - not
just one. Franco, remember, is the
Head of State and also the Premier.
So in July, 1969, General Franco
officially named Prince Juan Carlos to be
bis successor as Head of State. He
thereby bypassed Juan Carlos' own
father, Don Juan.
Franco has long wanted to restore
the House of Bourbon to the throne
when he passes from the scene. When
that happens, the Bourbon Prince Juan
Carlos will immediately assume top re–
sponsibility as Head of State. He will
also be Spain's first king since Alfonso
fled Spain in 1931.
General Franco was shrewd enough
to know that it would not have been
sufficient merely to designate Prince
Juan Carlos as his successor. Franco