STAFF NOTES: WESTERN EUROPE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00608R000500040034-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 31, 2005
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: November 4, 1975
• Content Type: REPORT

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Portuguese Government Continues To
Press For More Discipline. . . . . . . . . . . 3
Rightist Leader Supports Gradual
Democratization in Spain 4
November 4, ''.975
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Portuguese Government Continues To Press For More
Discipline
The Portuguese cabinet has requested a joint
meeting with the Revolutionary Council to discuss
the country's crisis of authority. In particular,
it said it hoped to learn what action the Council
would take to implement a presidential decree ordering
the surrender of all illegally Feld arms. A week-long
amnesty for turning in the arms was held October 17-25,
but only a handful were surrendered.
Portugal's decolonization plans in Angola were
also reaffirmed by the cabinet on Monday. The govern-
ment's even-handed policy there has been severely
attacked by the left, which wants to turn over power
exclusively to the Moscow-backed Popular Movement
for the Liberation of Angola when the African colony
becomes independent on November 11. On Monday evening
Leftists held a rally in Lisbon La support the Popular
Movement, but it drew only 1,000 demonstrators.
In what appears to be a further step to purge the
media of Communist irfluence, the cabinet urged social
communications minister Almeida Santos to speed up
the recently announced media reorganization. The
cabinet also ruled that the dispute over control of
the newspaper 0 Seculo between Communist and non-
ComInunist workers must be solved through legal channels
and it ordered an inquiry intc the case.
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Rightist Leader Supports Gradual Democratization in
Skai n
The Marques de la Florida, vice-president of
Spain's largest veterans organization, told the US
embassy last week that it would support gradual
liberalization under Juan Carlos. This support
was conditioned, however, on the understanding that
the Communist Party would not be allowed in the
political structure. He also admitted that local
affiliates of his organization had been alerted to
stay in close touch for special instructions.
Most reporting indicates that Juan Carlos will
be given a period of grace to show how he views the
future of Spain. Several leftist political groups,
for example, have said they are willing to give the
new king a chance to institute democratic change.
This climate of post-Franco harmony will dissipate
rapidly, however, if one side or the other decides
that Juan Carlos' policy is detrimental to its long
term interests. In this connection, trouble from
extremists on both sides could very well force Juan
Carlos to take action sooner than he would like.
The reported effort by leaders of the National
Movement, Spain's only legal political organization,
to dismantle the far right "New Force" led by Falangist
Blas Pinar is an example of the danger that these
fringe groups represent. E_ I 25X1
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repressions and continue to oppose political liberali-
zation in any form.
November 4, 1975
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Thus while most responsible Spanish politicians
recognize the need for changes it will be the pace at
which these changes are implemented and the scope of
their content that will determine the chances for a
smooth transition.
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