Alberto Martín-Artajo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain | |
| In office 20 July 1945 – 25 February 1957 | |
| Prime Minister | Francisco Franco |
| Preceded by | José Félix de Lequerica |
| Succeeded by | Fernando María Castiella |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alberto Martín-Artajo y Álvarez (1905-10-02)2 October 1905 Madrid, Spain |
| Died | 31 August 1979(1979-08-31) (aged 73) Madrid, Spain |
| Political party | ACNP (National Movement) |
Alberto Martín-Artajo Álvarez (2 October 1905, inMadrid – 31 August 1979, in Madrid) was a legal technocrat for the Nationalist government during theSpanish Civil War and for the succeeding reign ofcaudilloFrancisco Franco, and aSpanish Minister of Foreign Affairs.[1] He served as the Foreign Minister from 1945 to 1957. Ideologically, he was not aFalangist (a member of the original Falange Española, the fascist-like party, before it absorbed the other anti-Republican parties), but a monarchist and a leader of the dynamic and powerful Catholic movement within the Francoist coalition. During the time of theSecond Spanish Republic, he had been a member of theSpanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right (CEDA, existed 1933–1937).[2]
He received his secondary education atOur Lady of Remembrance College, Madrid. Martín-Artajo earned a law degree from theUniversity of Madrid. He became a staff attorney of the Council of State in 1931.[3] During the Republic, Martín-Artajo worked closely withÁngel Herrera Oria, the director of the Catholic newspaperEl Debate and belonged to the layNational Catholic Association of Propagandists (propagandistas).[4][5][6] With the start of the Spanish Civil War, Martín-Artajo went over to the insurgent Nationalists. He was a legal adviser to the Nationalist government'sJunta Técnica del Estado (State Technical Council), Franco's cabinet,[note 1] and to the Nationalist government's Labor Ministry. In 1940, Generalissimo Franco appointed him president of the mass movement,Catholic Action.
In 1945, Martín-Artajo participated in the drafting of thequasiconstitutional "Fuero of the Spanish People", a list of rights, freedoms, and responsibilities.
In July 1945, fresh after the defeat of the Third Reich, Franco wanted to present the Spanish government as "Catholic" rather than a profascist, in the face of ostracism from other Western countries. Franco wanted to appoint Martín-Artajo Minister of Foreign Affairs.[9][10] After consulting with thePrimate of Spain,[citation needed] Cardinal Enrique Pla y Deniel, he accepted the portfolio of Foreign Affairs and resigned from his position at Catholic Action. His diplomatic efforts succeeded in breaking Spain's isolation.[11] On 8 March 1953, Martìn-Artajo received theAncient Order of Sikatuna for his "exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines", becoming the first person to be given the honor after its creation.[12] He effectuated the signing of the Concordat with theHoly See in August 1953, the bilateralPact of Madrid with the United States the following September,[13] and Spain's entry into the United Nations in 1955.
After retiring from the Foreign Ministry, he worked on the Council of State and at the publisher, Editorial Católica.
