File No. 763.72/11078
The Ambassador in Spain ( Willard) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 23, 8.30 a.m.]
1708. Rather unexpected if not sudden meeting of Council of Ministers was held here 20th instant at which were present all ministers except Minister of Finance. Minister of Foreign Affairs stated yesterday evening that he had received from German Government no reply to representations by Spanish Ambassador in Berlin. However, the impressions he had gathered from Spanish Ambassador in Berlin and from German Ambassador here were to the effect that German Government, on account of public sentiment in Germany, could not afford to yield her submarine warfare and therefore that the Spanish ships carrying contraband would continue to be sunk. Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that Spanish Government had taken a definite position, would not change its determination, and for each Spanish ship thus sunk a German ship refugeed in Spanish port would be seized. He then expressed the belief that immediately upon such seizure Germany would break diplomatic relations with Spain. He stated that Spain could take no other position regardless of the consequences.
In response I ventured to say that, though I was without instructions from my Government, I felt Spain had adopted the only course left open to her and if a breach of relations should result therefrom, that I was personally of opinion [she] might rely upon the United States’ willingness to supply Spain as far as possible with those things essential for her national and economic life. …