651.5231/134: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Bowers) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 2—2:55 p.m.]
25. My telegram No. 24, April 29, 1 p.m. Spanish Government has denounced Franco-Spanish commercial treaty of March 6, 1934,12 treaty remains in force, however, until July 1.
As corollary to above action Government has hurriedly issued a decree which appeared in yesterday’s Gaceta placing automobiles on a contingent basis without as yet fixing total import quota. I visited Foreign Office this morning and received assurances to the effect that [Page 704] the decree though general in character is directed solely against France and that every effort will be made in putting the decree into operation to meet our views. The Undersecretary added that Spain was maintaining and adding to her list of products placed on a contingent basis only as a matter of defense and would prefer to abolish the whole system should other countries do so. In conclusion he said Señor Calderón is being instructed as to the attitude he should take regarding automobile contingents in the treaty under negotiation.
- Journal Officiel de la République Française, Lois et Décrets, March 11, 1934, p. 2516.↩