spanish democracy

spanish democracy Sec. 605. (a) The Congress finds that— (1) the Senate, in rendering its advice and consent to ratification of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the United States and Spain (signed on January 24, 1976), declared92 STAT. 987 its hope and intent that the Treaty would serve to support and foster Spain’s progress toward free institutions; (2) this declaration reflected the strong desire of the United States Government and the American people to see a restoration of democracy in Spain and an expansion of mutually beneficial relations between Spain and the democracies of America and Europe; and (3) political developments in Spain during the past two years constitute a major step toward the construction of a stable and lasting Spanish democracy. (b) The Congress finds further that— (1) the masterpiece "Guernica", painted by Pablo Picasso, has for four decades been a powerful and poignant symbol of the horror of war; (2) this treasured painting, while universal in its significance, holds special meaning for the people of Spain by its representation of the tragic civil war which destroyed Spanish democracy; (3) Pablo Picasso, having painted “Guernica” for the Spanish Republican Government and concerned for Spain’s future when that government fell, stipulated that the painting should remain in the custody of the Museum of Modern Art in New York until Spanish democracy had been restored; and (4) the United States and Spain, in a Supplementary Agreement entered into with the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, have committed themselves to expand their cooperation in the fields of education and culture. (c) It is therefore the sense of the Congress, anticipating the continuance of recent promising developments in Spanish political life, that “Guernica” should, at some point in the near future and through appropriate legal procedures, be transferred to the people and Government of a democratic Spain. (d) It is further the sense of the Congress that the American people, having long benefited from this treasure and admiring Spain’s achievement, would wish, as an expression of appreciation and congratulation upon the transfer of “Guernica” to Spain, to assist in the preparation of facilities for the permanent display of the painting, if such assistance is found to be appropriate by the elected leaders of Spain.