observations OFF McBride, our Spanish correspondent.
Compared with the tale of intrigue and dirty dealing turned up by the trial of the Spanish coup d'état conspirators, Dallas mild stuff indeed.
even bet which of the two longtracting more attention in ball. Perhaps oCcause most details have been heard before, perhaps because of fatalism about the trial outcome.
One of the country's most popular cartoonists has two men talking about me unal. now many years do you think they'll really long as thev don't SINCE 19 February thirty three people - thirty two of them army officers - have been on trial in Spain, charged with organising the attempted coup d'état last February. Here we publish the trial by Frank decorate them", is the reply.
But there are many than who shot JR?. They may or may not be resolved by the trial. Who was the real head of the plot?
General Alfonso Armada - at the time second in the army chief of staft denies that he was anything other than an intermediary between Tejero ana mis own superior, at tempting to end the occupation of the Congress But according to Te General Milans del Bosch, Armada wanted to be President of a new government. And he had them believe that the King be ced shiracoup.
conspirators like the ewing tamily present an interesting mix of colourful and drab strongies some weak and had apparently been conspiring for over a year, others joined in once the part had started. But the other big questons are abour mosc who aren't in the dock.
What about the commanders of four of Spain's military regions Milans del Bosch claimed the night of February 23? Or General Jose Juste now retired commander of the crack Brunete division who dithered over sending his troops into untien?
the Brunete, Spanish Army's principal strike force, had lett the barracks and taken the strategic points of Madrid, what would have happened?
only civilian being tried? Surely more must have been involved What about the role of big business. Ac Obrero, leaders of the Spanish equivalent of the CBI had several contacts with the conspirators and banks may have financed the coup attempt. They base their reports on police apers, hande to the and which have obviously been covered un The trial is expected to last until the beginning of April at least. The result is anybody's guess, though they can't all have been *just following orders For those that do get put away there is the hope of Pope's autumn visit?)
A purging of the Francoist state apparatus remains the only sure way to avoid that, but despite the efforts of the far left there been mass mobilisations around that The and the Socialist and Communist Parties have pealed for 'peace and trandeclare their confidence in USUCC This despite the irony that the generals sitting in ludge ment on the attempted coup would not be there if it were not for Franco's own successful coup 1936.
After the trial comes the word cup and are that the Pope's visit which the bourgeoiste hope will maintain the •peace and tranquility sthes need to victory in carly general MOVIMIENTO COMUNISTA Poster of the far left MCE demands life sentences for the military plotters ment is the lack of any