Ginés de Albareda in Colombia

In September 1937, Spanish poet Ginés de Albareda arrived in Barranquilla as an unofficial Francoist envoy to spread pro-Nationalist propaganda. He therefore became a significant figure for many right-wing sectors of society who viewed him as an embodiment of the close links between Colombian conservativism and traditional Spain. Before he had even set foot in the country the Chamber of Representatives passed a motion to declare the envoy ‘persona non grata’ since he was representing a regime not recognized by the national government. Men and women from right-wing sectors of the Spanish colony and wider Barranquilla society were waiting for him at the port on the day of his arrival, whilst local workers organized a demonstration in Plaza Bolívar to protest against the presence of a Francoist representative in their city.

This contrast between right- and left-wing Colombian responses characterized Albareda’s stay in the country, which was not free of controversy. On 24 September, during one of the envoy’s conferences to promote the Nationalist cause, three individuals were injured and one died in a violent confrontation between attendees and members of Barranquilla society who protested outside the event. This incident provoked a debate in the Chamber of Representatives about foreigners’ activities within Colombia. In January 1938, Albareda travelled to Bogotá and presided over the inauguration of a Spanish Nationalist Centre in the city. The Archbishop of Bogotá, Juan Manuel González Arbeláez, attended the opening ceremony and publicly blessed the venue and the Francoist cause. Conservative leader Laureano Gómez also made an appearance and, at the request of the Spanish community, pronounced the opening speech.

Albareda also kicked off a fundraising campaign for Nationalist troops, which aimed to send Colombian coffee to Spanish soldiers and religious ornaments to priests. In total, aid initiatives for Nationalist Spain raised approximately $14,500 Colombian pesos (approximately USD$180,000 today). He also oversaw the centralization of local branches of the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS, naming Antonio Valverde Gil as provincial delegate of the Francoist party in Colombia and designating the Spanish Nationalist Centre as Falangist headquarters. This group aimed to establish unofficial relations between right-wing Colombians and Nationalist Spain even before the latter won the civil war. From April 1939, after Colombia recognised Franco’s regime, they also sought to promote closer economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

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