SECRET
Page 322
SECRET
1.
GIBRALTAR: TALKS IN MADRID
(Previous Reference: OPD(67) 27th Meeting, Item 2)
The Committee had before them a nemorandum (OPD(67) 82) by the
Foreign Secretary and the Commonwealth Secretary seeking authority for
the proposed line to be followed by the British representative in forth-
coming talks with the Spanish Government in Madrid.
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY said that the Spanish Government evidently
intended to exert maximum pressure on us over the next few months, both
in the United Nations and in the form of increased restrictions against
Gibraltar. The most pressing problem was in the United Nations, where
there was little support for our case and a great deal for that of Spain.
Our aim must be to appear as forthcoming and reasonable as possible, so as to avoid an overwhelming vote in the United Nations in favour of
transferring Gibraltar to Spain. At the same time, we wished to
prevent the imposition of further restrictions on the colony, which
would not only harm the Gibraltarians, but would force us into a
dangerous confrontation with Spain, We had been lobbying hard in
capitals with a view to achieving an anodyne resolution in the United
Nations and we had also offered to engage in further discussion with
Spain. In doing so we had tried to make the terms of reference wide
enough to be acceptable to the Spaniards, without impairing our sovereignty over Gibraltar. It looked as though the Spaniards would
try to defer the talks until early in the New Year, and meanwhile try to
secure a Resolution in the United Nations session favourable to their
We should try to prevent this, but the prospects were not very
good. The line proposed for our representatives when talks did take place
offered some friendly gestures and minor concɔssions which should show
the Spaniards our desire to co-operate. With the agreement of the Defence Secretary it was also proposed to make an immediate change in
RAF flying procedures which would avoid our military aircraft passing
through the Spanish "prohibited area", unless this was essential for
safety.
case.
Page 322
1÷1
SECRET
Page 322
ง