File No. 763.72/472
The Chargé d’Affaires in Spain (Dearing) to the Secretary of State1
San Sebastian, August 15, 1914, 4 p.m.
[Received August 17, 9:30 a.m.]
[Telegram]
Minister of State during an interview yesterday afternoon regarding financial situation of stranded Americans, entered into the general subject of financial relations between Spain and the United States and expressed a hearty desire that they should be made more extensive, more intimate and more mutually helpful.
Digressing somewhat but giving it as his reason for so expressing himself, Minister said substantially the following:
He thought United States and Spain were the only great nations that could remain strictly neutral during the present European [Page 64] conflict, which, he intimated, would be long and leave the combatants exhausted. He expressed the opinion that the great duty to restore peace and of upholding and advancing civilization would devolve upon the United States and Spain. He is, therefore, anxious that every advantage of the present opportune moment should be taken to strengthen and to extend relationships of all kinds between the two nations. I concurred in a general way, which is almost diplomatically dutiful, in the Minister’s expression of opinion [that] industrial troubles which seem to be impending on account of unemployment [are] due to some extent to the lack of shipping facilities and a certain demoralization of commerce, particularly fruit exportation and cotton importation, and said that [I] would then transmit his views to my Government. The Minister’s remarks, while in most general terms and apparently somewhat impromptu, seemed to me significant. I think the Department would be justified in discerning in them a hint that Spain would be receptive of any proposal for the possible collaboration in such efforts as the United States may make to bring about peace in Europe. The Minister expressed a hope for frequent exchange of views with the Embassy, said he was glad the Ambassador was returning and incidentally but at some length indicated [Spain would keep aloof] from present struggle but would finally be aligned with the nations of the Triple Entente against Austria and Germany.
- Received in very confused order. Reconstructed by transposition of some passages↩