Spanish question (United Nations) facts for kids

The Spanish question was a big international problem between Spain and the United Nations from 1945 to 1955. It was about why the UN wouldn't let Spain join. Spain was led by Francisco Franco at the time. His government had shown support for the Axis powers (like Germany and Italy) during World War II. After the Axis powers lost the war, many countries didn't trust Spain.

A cartoon from 1945 shows Francisco Franco trying to hide his past support for the Axis powers.

Spain's Role in World War II

When World War II started in 1939, Spain said it would stay neutral. This meant it would not pick a side. But things changed when Germany started winning many battles. In June 1940, Germany was about to enter Paris. Franco then changed Spain's status to "non-belligerent." This meant Spain was not fighting, but it was not strictly neutral either.

The next day, Spanish troops took over Tangier. This was an international city. It became part of the Spanish Protectorate of Morocco. In 1941, Franco's government decided to help the Axis powers. They sent a group of volunteers, called the Blue Division, to fight against the USSR (Soviet Union).

In 1942, British and American troops landed in North Africa. They came to fight German and Italian forces there. This made Franco worried about Spain being invaded by the Allies. In 1943, after Italy's leader Mussolini was removed, Franco changed Spain back to "strict neutrality." He also ordered the Blue Division to leave the Russian front.

Because Franco's government had supported the Axis powers, the winning countries did not want Spain to be part of the new international system after the war.

Why Spain Was Excluded from the UN

The problem with Spain started at the San Francisco Conference in 1945. This meeting helped create the United Nations. During the conference, Australia and Mexico suggested something important. They said that countries whose governments were set up with help from the Axis powers should not join the UN. This was aimed at Spain, even though Spain was not named directly.

Many Spanish Republican leaders were at this conference. They had a lot of influence. They helped make sure that Spain's entry into the UN would be difficult.

Later, at the Potsdam Conference, the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union talked about Spain. They said they would not support Spain joining the UN. They believed Franco's government was too closely linked to the defeated Axis powers. The Soviet Union's leader, Stalin, especially wanted to punish Spain. This was partly because Spain had sent the Blue Division to fight against the Soviet Union.

UN Resolution 39 Against Spain

The issue of Spain was one of the first things the UN discussed. The Polish delegation brought it up. In 1946, the UN Security Council studied Spain's political situation. They concluded that Franco's government was like a fascist government. They said it was set up with help from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. They also noted that Franco had helped the Axis powers. He sent the Blue Division to the Soviet Union and took over Tangier.

The UN believed that Franco's government did not truly represent the Spanish people. So, on December 12, 1946, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 39. This resolution stopped Spain from joining international groups and conferences linked to the UN. It also suggested that countries should take their ambassadors out of Spain. The resolution passed with 34 votes for, 6 against, and 13 abstentions.

Spain's government reacted strongly the next day. They held a large demonstration in Plaza de Oriente. They wanted to show national pride against what they saw as foreign interference. These actions by the UN did not weaken Franco's government much. Instead, Franco used it as propaganda. He told the Spanish people that foreign countries were trying to interfere. This actually made him stronger at home.

Internationally, the resolution made Spain feel isolated. But some countries, like Argentina, did not follow the recommendation to remove their ambassadors. Spain also tried to make friends with Spanish-American and Arab countries. They hoped that Western countries, worried about the Cold War, would change their minds about Spain.

UN Resolution 386 Changes Course

The Cold War began between the United States and the Soviet Union. This changed how the US government viewed Spain. Spain's location and its anti-communist government became important to the "free world" plans. Because of this, Spain started to gain support from some UN member countries.

In 1950, the US Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, said that Resolution 39 had failed. He mentioned that the US government might support ending the restrictions on Spain. However, the US still did not invite Spain to join the Marshall Plan or NATO.

On November 4, 1950, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 386. This new resolution canceled the old recommendation to remove ambassadors from Spain. It also removed the rule that stopped Spain from joining international groups linked to the UN. This resolution passed with 38 votes for, 10 against, and 12 abstentions.

Spain Joins the United Nations

Resolution 386 opened the door for Spain to join the United Nations system. In 1951, Spain started joining UN agencies. These included the UPU, the ITU, the FAO, and the WHO. Finally, Spain officially joined the United Nations in 1955.

See also

In Spanish: Cuestión española (Naciones Unidas) para niños

• United Nations Security Council Resolution 4
• United Nations Security Council Resolution 7
• Dates of establishment of diplomatic relations with Francoist Spain