611.5231/1024: Telegram

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

58. Fernandez Shaw, Chief of Commercial Agreement Section of the Ministry of Commerce, yesterday informed Commercial Attaché that recent instructions to Calderón with regard to passenger automobiles constitute absolute maximum Spain can offer the United States. Shaw said “Our back is to the wall and we are now in a position similar to the one we were in last April in our negotiations with France”.

In view of the fact that Spain has now stretched her offers to us to maximum possible without destroying chances of commercial agreements with England and France urge reconsideration points mentioned my No. 48, July 18, 2 p.m.

Bowers