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Secret papers points to Vox 'conspiracy'

Spain tried to influence a Gibraltarian newspaper in the late 1960s in a bid to dampen anti-Spanish sentiment on the Rock, according to claims contained in secret papers released to the Chronicle.

The former head of Special Branch at the Royal Gibraltar Police, Detective Chief Superintendent Fred Llambias, believed he had uncovered a “conspiracy” to take over the VOX newspaper and force it to adopt a more moderate line offering less resistance to the Spanish government’s proposals for Gibraltar.

Mr Llambias believed Madrid was seeking to exert influence through members of a group of local lawyers and businessmen who called themselves the Doves and advocated a settlement with Spain.

Although sections of his report have been blacked out, he concluded by writing that: “From a Special Branch point of view…this is a well-engineered move by Spain to get rid of such an anti-Spanish newspaper as the VOX.”

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