The Status Of Gibraltar

Two aphorisms are often stated about Gibraltar: first, that it was a possession that "Spain did not value until she had lost it"; and second, since the day it became a British possession, "Gibraltar has been a thorn in the side of Spain." Except for a few relatively short periods, the Gibraltar issue has adversely affected Anglo-Spanish relations during the almost 275 years of British ownership. To date, negotiations under the aegis of the United Nations have proven unfruitful. Spain demands that complete sovereignty be returned. Great Britain declines to take any such action without the consent of the inhabitants. Despite a referendum in which the Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to retain links with Great Britain, the Special Committee of the U.N. General Assembly continues to strongly support the Spanish claim. What effect Spain's entry into NATO will have remains to be seen. This book examines the historical background and present status of the dispute, making extensive use of documents not previously analyzed in depth. Dr. Levie describes the events leading up to the Treaty of Utrecht, provides a detailed analysis of the treaty itself, and traces the origins of its various interpretations. He discusses how the British, unintentionally or otherwise, have violated its provisions, and how the Spanish have attempted to retaliate. The book concludes with a discussion of how the Gibraltar issue has beeen handled in the U.N. to the present day.

Howard S. Levie is professor emeritus of international law at St. Louis University Law School. A specialist in the law of war, he has also taught at the U.S. Naval War College.