José María de Areilza, Count of Motrico

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is de Areilza and the second or maternal family name is Martínez-Rodas.

José María de Areilza y Martínez-Rodas, Count of Motrico (3 August 1909, in Portugalete, Vizcaya – 22 February 1998, in Madrid) was a Spanish politician, engineer and ambassador.

The Most Excellent The Count of Motrico
de Areilza in 1976
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
In office 1981–1983
Preceded by	Hans de Koster
Succeeded by	Karl Ahrens
Deputy of the General Courts For Madrid
In office 1979–1982
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 11 December 1975 – 7 July 1976
Preceded by	Pedro Cortina Mauri
Succeeded by	Marcelino Oreja
Ambassador of Spain in France
In office 1960–1964
Preceded by	José Rojas Moreno
Succeeded by	Carlos Miranda y Quartín
Ambassador of Spain in the United States
In office 1954–1960
Preceded by	José Félix de Lequerica y Erquiza
Succeeded by	Mariano de Yturralde y Orbegoso
Ambassador of Spain in the Argentine Republic
In office 1947–1950
Preceded by	José Muñoz de Vargas
Succeeded by	Manuel Aznar Zubigaray
Major of Bilbao
In office June 1937 – February 1938
Preceded by	Ernesto Ercoera
Succeeded by	José María González de Careaga y Urquijo
Seat G of the Real Academia Española
In office 10 December 1987 – 22 February 1998
Preceded by	Manuel Díez-Alegría
Succeeded by	José Hierro
Personal details
Born	(1909-08-03)3 August 1909 Portugalete, Spain
Died	22 February 1998(1998-02-22) (aged 88) Madrid, Spain
Nationality	Spanish
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Lawyer

During the Spanish civil war he became Mayor of the city of Bilbao in 1938. Between 1947 and 1964 he served as Spanish Ambassador to Buenos Aires, Washington DC and Paris. In 1964 he resigned from his office and was asked by the King in exile to lead the monarchist opposition to general Franco, as Secretary General of his Private Council. Between 1975 and 1976 he was the first Foreign Affairs Minister of the new King Juan Carlos I. In 1976, along with Pío Cabanillas he founded the short-lived People's Party, which later became part of the UCD, although he left after disagreements with Adolfo Suárez. In 1979 he was elected to the Congress of Deputies for Madrid district for the Coalición Democrática. In 1981 he became President of the Assembly of the Council of Europe and in 1997 he was elected member of the Spanish Royal Academy. He wrote over 3000 newspaper articles and 12 books. His wife died in 1991.