811.612 Oranges/Spain/—: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Moore) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 21—3:14 a.m.]
85. Department’s telegram 78. From all I can gather the statement of Primo de Rivera for the New York Times was made after he sent [Page 721] his letter of protest to me and after I explained to him personally that no personal offense was intended, that all matters in relation to embargoes were made by the Federal Horticultural Board under the Department of Agriculture, and that the Department of State, or Congress, or even the President, had no control over the matter.
For the Department’s information. Personally did not know that there was any embargo on oranges until I received Primo de Rivera’s letter. There was published in a couple of Madrid newspapers a few days before I received Primo de Rivera’s letter a news item that such an embargo had been placed on Spanish oranges, but my impression then was that these press notices were the work of some interests unfriendly to the United States. All these notices have been sent to the Department in the Embassy’s weekly reports recently. My personal opinion is that the Spanish Government did not know of this embargo until these press notices appeared and, as I understand it, the protest was only made after a number of orange growers a few days previously called on the Premier to protest against the embargo. I am positive that if the Spanish Government had known of this embargo 8 months ago, it would certainly have made a protest then, because I have seldom met either an official or a fruit grower that has not protested against the grape proposition.
[Paraphrase]
I am not able to answer specifically the last paragraph of the Department’s telegram No. 75 of December 12, 3 p.m., inasmuch as the Spanish Government has given no direct indication of its intentions except the contents of Primo de Rivera’s letter, of which I cabled the text to the Department on December 13th. It is my opinion that if the orange embargo could be lifted and the orange situation restored to its former condition the Spaniards might disregard the grape embargo. The chief Spanish grievance appears to be that although practically no oranges are exported to the United States, the American embargo hurts them in other markets.
I explained to them in detail that the Mediterranean fruit fly had been discovered in the grapes and in the oranges as well and that the embargo had been imposed solely for sanitary reasons, and gave them my assurance that these were the sole and only reasons. I likewise gave my assurance to Primo de Rivera that the American Government was willing at all times to assist them in every way not inconsistent with our laws. One thing with which they have been impressed and which is hard to get out of their minds is that the California fruit growers are responsible for all this. I have done everything possible to remove this idea, but for some reason it is impossible to convince them. I do not believe that the Spanish Government [Page 722] will do anything under any circumstances before the whole question has been thoroughly gone over. When I arrive in Washington about January 10th, I shall explain the whole situation in person. I feel sure that the Spanish Government will take no definite action in the meantime and it is my opinion that the matter can be ironed out.