Basque Declarations: Añoveros Sermon & Bayonne Pact
Importance of the Bayonne Pact
This text signified an endorsement of the Basque Government “as a legitimate representation of the Basque people.” Its aim was to restore the unity of Basque institutions in exile to confront the Francoist regime. It demonstrated the support given to the Basque government in exile to manage this new situation.
At this point, the most important thing was to restore democracy, leaving the interests of the parties aside. The recovery of democratic freedoms was prioritized over any other issue. However, the restoration of democracy was canceled by the Cold War, and they had to wait until the Transition (1975) and the Statute of Gernika (1979).
Importance of the Añoveros Sermon
This text is very important because it perfectly reflects the situation of the Basque Country, showing the repression caused by the Francoist regime and the oppression of Basque identity and culture. It also shows the position of the Basque Church, moving away from Francoism. The sermon was not a single initiative by Añoveros, the Bishop of Bilbao. However, Franco’s regime didn’t recognize the Basque conflict, and Basque citizens and their culture continued to be oppressed by the regime, so the sermon didn’t have a great impact.
Location: Añoveros Sermon
Type: Primary source, part of a sermon (narrative), written as a letter. Regarding the content, it is a sociopolitical and religious text.
Author: Antonio Añoveros (Navarrese), the Bishop of Bilbao.
Intended Audience: The citizens of Bizkaia, and also Franco’s regime. Public text.
Place and Date: Read in most churches of Bizkaia on February 24th, 1974, and written in Bilbao. During the last period of the Francoist regime, during the crisis, two months after the assassination of Carrero Blanco.
Purpose: To denounce the situation of oppression in the Basque Country and to defend Basque identity.
Location: Bayonne Pact
Type: Primary source, narrative text, a manifesto. Regarding the content, it is political.
Author: Members of different Basque organizations (Basque trade unions and political parties) in exile that opposed the regime (UGT, EAJ). Collective author.
Intended Audience: All Basque citizens, the domestic and exile opposition, the Francoist regime, and supporters of the Monarchy. It is a public text.
Place and Date: Bayonne, March 31st, 1945. At the beginning of the Francoist regime and at the end of World War II.
Purpose: Reaffirmed their allegiance to the Republic and gave support to the Basque Government, opposing the dictatorship and preventing a restoration of the monarchy.
Analysis: Añoveros Sermon
Main Idea: Verify the existence of the so-called Basque conflict and reveal its roots.
The first paragraph is an introduction that talks about the so-called Basque conflict, confirming that it is a serious problem. The conflict is explained in the following paragraphs:
Basque people are oppressed, and their rights are being violated. Añoveros reclaims these rights. On the other hand, some others think that this oppression is false, that it is a serious attack on the existing system (the Franco regime).
The Basque Country has its own distinctive characteristics, cultural and spiritual features (Carlism, religion…), and most importantly, the Basque language. All this has been rejected by the Franco Regime.
The Basque Country, like the rest of the nations of the State, has the full right to maintain its identity. To reach that goal, it’s necessary to change the political system of Spain.
The Basque Country suffers obstacles: the use of the Basque language is very limited, without presence in the media and education; Spanish is the only language; in the media, there is totalitarianism: propaganda about the regime, censorship, and state control.
The church must commit itself to resolve the Basque conflict and change the situation in the country.
Analysis: Bayonne Pact
Main Idea: Basque political and trade union organizations in exile showed their unity to defend the anti-Franco policy of the Basque Government and support the return to the Republic.
The first paragraph is the introduction that shows the signatories of the agreement: the Basque Government, political parties, and the trade union opposition organizations in exile.
The content of the agreement is divided into five different points:
Creation of the Basque Government during the Civil War: The opposition reaffirmed their unity as in the uprising of July 18th, 1936, which was reflected in the formation of the Basque Government created on October 7th in accordance with the Statute. The president, who has been elected, is J. Agirre.
Defend the Basque Government, Legitimate Institution: Recognition of the Basque Government in exile as the legal representative of the Basque Country or the Basque people. Also, to offer that institution protection and support while different political parties and trade unions agreed with the political and social objectives.
Need to Respect and Defend the Wishes of the Basque People (Autonomy, Independence): In the case of defeating Franco’s regime, with the return to democracy.
Work of the Basque Government: It is proposed to create an advisory committee to support the Basque Government to prepare for the moment Franco’s regime disappears (which will never disappear (1945)). This committee would follow regulations.
Joint Position – United Front: Against the dictatorship, against the monarchy, and in favor of the republic. Express a commitment to work together with other Spanish peoples and institutions who are inside the country and support them to go against the Francoist dictatorship and monarchy, showing their loyalty to the Republic.