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SECRET/EXDIS -3- Kissinger apologized for asking what might seem to be a simplistic question, but why did Spain want to join NATO? It was our recent experience that some of the Alliance members seemed to want to go the opposite direction. Aguirre replied that Spanish membership in NATO would set the course of the evolution of the entire Spanish relationship to Europe. It would lead to membership in the Common Market and to generally closer integration of Spain into the European community. Without the link to NATO, all roads seemed to be barred to Spain. Aguirre said he would not want to predict what the individualistic Spanish reaction to this frustration might be over the long run. There might be a retreat into an ivory tower, a shift to support of a neutralist course in international affairs, or even a radical Castro-style reaction. Kissinger stated that Aguirre should understand that what the President had told Foreign Minister Castiella about the need for good US-Spanish relations had been profoundly meant. That was a strong conviction of the President's which Kissinger shared. However, in all frankness, Kissinger said he would have to comment that Spanish membership in NATO was some- thing the domestic political structure of most European countries simply would not permit at present. Furthermore, the supposed alternative of a mutual security treaty between the US and Spain was being pushed mainly by SEGRET/EXDIS [φ.4 of 11] NLN 04-69/6 04

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    "ocrText": "SECRET/EXDIS\n-3-\nKissinger apologized for asking what might seem to be a simplistic\nquestion, but why did Spain want to join NATO? It was our recent experience\nthat some of the Alliance members seemed to want to go the opposite direction.\nAguirre replied that Spanish membership in NATO would set the course\nof the evolution of the entire Spanish relationship to Europe. It would lead\nto membership in the Common Market and to generally closer integration of\nSpain into the European community. Without the link to NATO, all roads\nseemed to be barred to Spain.\nAguirre said he would not want to predict what the individualistic\nSpanish reaction to this frustration might be over the long run. There\nmight be a retreat into an ivory tower, a shift to support of a neutralist\ncourse in international affairs, or even a radical Castro-style reaction.\nKissinger stated that Aguirre should understand that what the President\nhad told Foreign Minister Castiella about the need for good US-Spanish\nrelations had been profoundly meant. That was a strong conviction of the\nPresident's which Kissinger shared. However, in all frankness, Kissinger\nsaid he would have to comment that Spanish membership in NATO was some-\nthing the domestic political structure of most European countries simply\nwould not permit at present. Furthermore, the supposed alternative of a\nmutual security treaty between the US and Spain was being pushed mainly by\nSEGRET/EXDIS\n[φ.4 of 11]\nNLN 04-69/6 04"
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