852.75 National Telephone Company/71: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Laughlin)

107. Your telegram No. 101, December 3, 4 p.m. It will not be possible for me to see the press until the regular conference on Monday morning. At that time I propose (unless you have recommended against it between now and then) to give the correspondents orally a thorough summary of the situation and our position, reading them the text of our note of November 23 and concluding by intimating that, should the confiscatory bill be enacted, we should consider your immediate withdrawal from Madrid. In your discretion you may in the meantime permit the rumor regarding your departure to be started locally.

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We remain prepared to release the full text of our note, accompanied by the lead, immediately after the receipt of your “flash”.

Your remarks to Zulueta, described in your telegram No. 99, December 3, noon, are entirely approved.

With reference to Wiley’s conversation with Briggs, reporting the receipt of the Spanish reply, we shall if necessary telegraph you again as soon as we have received the text and your comments thereon.

Stimson