CUBA: Love & Intelligence Spurned

Falangist Leader Jenaro Riestra went to Havana from Spain last week with a consul generalship for himself, a present for Cuban President Colonel Fulgencio Batista. Neither made a hit.

University of Havana students whipped up a resolution demanding nonrecognition of the new Consul, fearing he would use his diplomatic immunity to promote Cuban fascism. Other Cubans stirred up so much trouble that police barred all visitors from the pier when the Marques de Camillas pulled in. Then shrewd Boss Batista heard his present was to be a sword from the Spanish Falangist Party and turned it down before it was even offered. Said his secretary: “He esteems it improper and inappropriate to think that a foreign political party with an ideology so contrary to that of the persons who have elected him should intend such an act.”

It was probably intending a good deal more than that. When General Francisco Franco’s slick brother-in-law Don Ramon Serrano Suner returned from his first trips to Berlin and Rome he began tapping members for a Hispanidad Council, designed to foster “intelligence and love” for Spain in Latin America. Since one of the first Councilors was Spain’s new Consul for Havana, it looked as if Don Ramon meant to replace German and Italian fifth columns with the Falange.

If any Axis member can effectively sabotage Pan-Americanism, Spain is the most likely one. Since the fascist bugaboo began popping up all over South America last summer, Latin Americans have become increasingly wary of their big, unassimilated German and Italian colonies. But, with the exception of Brazil, they are still tied to Spain by history and culture, blood and language.

Some small success has already come Spain’s way. After repairing its diplomatic break with Chile, whose Valparaiso Consul is also a Hispanidad Councilman, Spain began taking first shipments on a 150,000-ton nitrate order last week. But Riestra’s reception in Havana was evidence that Latin America was not yet ready for a full dose of Axis-made love and intelligence.