UGT Manifesto & UN Resolution on Franco’s Spain (1917-1946)
UGT Manifesto: A Call for General Strike (1917)
This historical, political text addresses Spanish society during a period of crisis. Written in Madrid in March 1917, during the reign of Alfonso XIII, it reflects the instability of the Canovas Restoration System. The central theme is the joint manifesto issued by the UGT (General Union of Workers) and CNT (National Confederation of Labor), advocating for a general strike as the most potent weapon to address the suffering of the working class.
The first paragraph highlights that despite warnings and complaints from unions to the government, the plight of the proletariat was worsening due to unemployment and rising prices.
The document then emphasizes the necessity of unity between the two major labor forces, the anarchist CNT and the socialist UGT, to take measures deemed necessary for the strike’s success. The agreement is outlined as follows:
- Due to widespread unemployment and the government’s inaction in providing a more dignified life for the proletariat, a general strike is imposed to demand their rights.
- Appropriate measures will be taken to ensure the strike’s success, coinciding with other protest movements against the government, which was gradually adopting a more political stance.
The government ultimately resorted to military intervention. The ensuing repression was brutal, resulting in 80 deaths and 200 arrests. Members of the strike committee were sentenced to life imprisonment but were pardoned the following year. At the end of that year, news of the Russian Revolution arrived, sparking a series of actions by trade unionists and anarchists, known as the Bolshevik Triennium. Alarmed by the success of the labor movement, management decided to dismantle the Catalan CNT by assassinating its leaders.
In short, the crisis of Spanish liberalism became evident, emerging without a clear alternative.
UN Resolution on Relations with Spain (1946)
This is a historical document of a political nature: a solemn agreement and policy statement adopted by the United Nations Organization on December 12, 1946. The resolution is signed by the UN General Assembly, a body representing all member countries. It serves as a primary source on the external relations of Franco’s Spain during that period.
This resolution recognizes the fascist and non-representative nature of the Franco regime, thus precluding its admission to the UN. It also recommends that member countries isolate Spain while this situation persists.
Key Points of the Resolution
The resolution deems the Franco regime fascist, based on these characteristics:
- Authoritarian government embodied in the figure of Franco.
- Single party: the merger of the FET (Spanish Falange) and JONS (National Syndicalist Offensive Juntas) into the National Movement.
- Large-scale repression of all opposition.
- Vertical, nested, and single union controlled by the state.
- Criticism of Franco’s assistance to the Axis powers during World War II, despite Spain’s declared neutrality, by allowing German submarines to refuel in Spanish waters.
The Assembly considered that the Franco government did not represent the Spanish people, as it was established after a coup that escalated into a civil war. Consequently, Spain was denied admission to the UN, leading to political and economic isolation that prevented it from benefiting from international loans and aid, at least until the establishment of a legitimate and representative government.
During this time, Franco attempted to project a more democratic image internationally, creating the *Fuero de los Españoles* (Charter of the Spanish). However, this was not a genuine move towards democratization.
The Assembly recommended the withdrawal of ambassadors accredited in Madrid. The text concludes by noting that with the end of World War II, the new international order considered the Spanish regime an enemy for its support of the Axis.
This resulted in a diplomatic and economic blockade, though it was somewhat mitigated as supplies of oil and commodities continued, thanks to Perón’s Argentina.
In late 1947, a shift in the United Nations’ attitude towards Spain became noticeable, coinciding with the beginning of the Cold War between the US and the USSR. In 1948, the French border was reopened, and international recognition occurred between 1951 and 1959 through agreements with the United States. Democratic nations, with support from the Vatican and the US, reluctantly accepted the authoritarian regime. The agreements with the US established a policy of defense and economic aid in exchange for allowing the Americans to establish military bases in Rota, Torrejón, and other locations, which could be used in case of an attack from the USSR on the West.