Royal Welcome

Among Dictator Francisco Franco's journalistic admirers, few have been more dedicated than Fulton ("I'm for McCarthy") Lewis Jr. Radio Commentator Lewis has repeatedly charged that criticisms of Franco's dictatorship came from "left-wingers" and "pinkos." Last month, when Fulton Lewis got ready for his first visit to Spain, he looked forward to a royal welcome and an exclusive interview with Franco. He was not disappointed by the welcome. The day before his arrival last week, Madrid's daily Ya said: "Fulton Lewis, the succinct and factual American journalist, tomorrow arrives in Madrid . . . If you encounter him in your walks you should take off your hat to him. There are not many newspapermen in the world who merit more this unique and supreme gesture of Spanish courtesy." Next day the newspaper headlined his arrival on Page One, with a picture captioned: "Take off your hat to Fulton Lewis."

But Lewis was disappointed with the welcome from Franco. Someone had forgotten to arrange for the exclusive interview. When the request was belatedly made, Franco politely said that he had no time, since Maine's Senator Margaret Chase Smith was interviewing him that week for the television cameras of Lewis' archenemy, Edward R. Murrow of CBS. Franco, after being urged to reconsider, agreed to an appointment, but by that time Lewis had had enough. Snapped he: "It's not fair for a Senator to use her entree for commercial purposes. Why does Murrow have to use a skirt who is a Senator?" Then Fulton Lewis huffily left Spain--only 72 hours after he had arrived.

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