98
something about the topic. From him I learned, ‘The western world being
unprotected in an area of the North Atlantic, it was vital and urgent to remedy this gap in our defences by setting up a powerful radar system on the
summit of La Palma’. NATO, he continued, and of course the Americans, felt
that Spain was responsible for covering this flank in the West’s defences. The
Cold War was at its height, and the Regime needed to cosy up to the so-called
western powers. Moreover, he informed me, that ‘they’ had already visited
Roque de los Muchachos (using the very road that ICONA had just built),
that ‘that was the site’, and that there was nothing more to be said on
the matter.
Determined not to give up the fight, I countered as best I could by listing
the many scientific benefits that the observatory about to be built on the crest
would bring. I told him the advanced stage that had been reached with the
international agreements that would be most advantageous for Spain. I failed
to penetrate the stone wall.
I had a sudden flash of inspiration and put myself inside the military head
of the chief of staff with whom I was speaking. Not for nothing was I the son
of a military father and a reserve officer of the glorious Spanish army. I decided
to bombard my interlocutor with the Motherland and History! But it had to
be done respectfully: in those days one did not treat such matters lightly. I
tactfully assumed a military style and terminology.
I began by accepting that the defence of the country was a top priority, and
that, in cases of possible conflict between research and defence, the latter must
prevail. I then informed the official that the Americans were building modern
telescopes on Mauna Kea, on the highest point of the Hawaiian Islands. This
was clear evidence they had found a formula to make science compatible with
defence in Hawaii, in spite of the painful lesson of Pearl Harbor. Might we,
then (that is to say, the Spanish army), not be held to international ridicule if
we were to prevent, on the grounds of military defence, the building of
European telescopes on La Palma? Ought we really be trying to out-pope the
Pope? Our military, I said, should seek a military solution, as the Americans
had done, that would save this major European project, a project through
which we aimed to reach the highest scientific and technological level in astrophysics. I intoned melodramatically that the Motherland and History would
judge harshly any failure to do so. I ended by urging them to take care not to
look foolish in front of their international colleagues. He remained silent and
said suddenly, ‘Professor, could I call you back in a little while? I need to confer with my superiors.’ The torpedo had struck home!
He called me back soon after to ask me if I could go to Madrid on the following day to discuss the matter in detail with them. I answered that of course
F. Sánchez
something about the topic. From him I learned, ‘The western world being
unprotected in an area of the North Atlantic, it was vital and urgent to remedy this gap in our defences by setting up a powerful radar system on the
summit of La Palma’. NATO, he continued, and of course the Americans, felt
that Spain was responsible for covering this flank in the West’s defences. The
Cold War was at its height, and the Regime needed to cosy up to the so-called
western powers. Moreover, he informed me, that ‘they’ had already visited
Roque de los Muchachos (using the very road that ICONA had just built),
that ‘that was the site’, and that there was nothing more to be said on
the matter.
Determined not to give up the fight, I countered as best I could by listing
the many scientific benefits that the observatory about to be built on the crest
would bring. I told him the advanced stage that had been reached with the
international agreements that would be most advantageous for Spain. I failed
to penetrate the stone wall.
I had a sudden flash of inspiration and put myself inside the military head
of the chief of staff with whom I was speaking. Not for nothing was I the son
of a military father and a reserve officer of the glorious Spanish army. I decided
to bombard my interlocutor with the Motherland and History! But it had to
be done respectfully: in those days one did not treat such matters lightly. I
tactfully assumed a military style and terminology.
I began by accepting that the defence of the country was a top priority, and
that, in cases of possible conflict between research and defence, the latter must
prevail. I then informed the official that the Americans were building modern
telescopes on Mauna Kea, on the highest point of the Hawaiian Islands. This
was clear evidence they had found a formula to make science compatible with
defence in Hawaii, in spite of the painful lesson of Pearl Harbor. Might we,
then (that is to say, the Spanish army), not be held to international ridicule if
we were to prevent, on the grounds of military defence, the building of
European telescopes on La Palma? Ought we really be trying to out-pope the
Pope? Our military, I said, should seek a military solution, as the Americans
had done, that would save this major European project, a project through
which we aimed to reach the highest scientific and technological level in astrophysics. I intoned melodramatically that the Motherland and History would
judge harshly any failure to do so. I ended by urging them to take care not to
look foolish in front of their international colleagues. He remained silent and
said suddenly, ‘Professor, could I call you back in a little while? I need to confer with my superiors.’ The torpedo had struck home!
He called me back soon after to ask me if I could go to Madrid on the following day to discuss the matter in detail with them. I answered that of course
F. Sánchez