No. 894
Editorial Note
On April 24, the Spanish Government submitted to the United States negotiating team a counterdraft to the Military Facilities Agreement proposed by the United States on March 16. The Spanish counterdraft, which was transmitted in telegram 850 from Madrid, April 26, showed that the Spanish were serious about acquiring a long-term military aid commitment from the United States in return for the bases. (711.56352/4–2653) Because there was a direct conflict between fulfilling that negotiating requirement on the one hand and the pressure within the United States Government to reduce foreign aid, as expressed in Documents 891 and 892, on the other, it was concluded in late April that a top-level government review of policy toward Spain was in order. The Department of State assumed responsibility for drafting a new policy statement to be submitted to the National Security Council Planning Board for consideration. The initial draft of this statement, dated May 6, is in Spanish Desk files, lot 58 D 344, “Negotiations—U.S.–Spanish, Apr.–May, 1953”. The recommendations of the [Page 1937] NSC Planning Board, infra. were based on a subsequent draft which has not been found in Department of State files.