852.00/3016
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Henderson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 5.]
Sir: I have the honor to attach hereto a translation of an announcement published in the Moscow Pravda of August 6, 1936, setting forth the reply made by the Soviet Government to the French proposal that France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union enter into an agreement not to intervene in the internal affairs of Spain.53
It will be observed that the Soviet Government agreed to take part in such an agreement providing Portugal should also be a party thereto and providing there should be “an immediate cessation of aid being rendered by several states to the rebels against the Spanish Government”.
Although almost two weeks have elapsed since the Soviet Government made its reply, an agreement has not as yet been reached among all the Powers concerned and, according to the Soviet press, both the Italians and the Germans are continuing to aid the Spanish rebels. The Embassy has nevertheless obtained the impression from conversations with various Soviet officials and members of the diplomatic corps that the Soviet Government is still willing to enter into an agreement similar to that proposed if it will not be so worded as to make it appear that the Soviet Government is taking any obligations on behalf of the Communist International and other international revolutionary or labor organizations maintaining headquarters on Soviet territory.
It is doubted if the Soviet Government would be willing, even in order to guarantee Spain from German or Italian intervention, to make any agreement which could be interpreted as an admission that it had any control over the Communist International or allied organizations [Page 492] or that it could in any way be held responsible for the use to which might be put funds sent out of the Soviet Union by organizations or groups not formally connected with the Government.
It is probable, therefore, that the reservation contained in the Italian reply to the Soviet [French] proposal; namely, whether or not “moral solidarity which has appeared and is appearing in the form of public demonstrations, press campaigns, collection of funds, and the recruiting of volunteers is not a clear and dangerous form of intervention,” is proving a stumbling block to the reaching of an agreement. I have heard, although not from entirely trustworthy sources, that following the receipt of the Italian reply the French and Soviet Governments endeavored without success to work out an agreement, the wording of which might satisfy Italians and at the same time would not obligate the Soviet Government to curb the activities of the international revolutionaries on Soviet territory or obligate it to prohibit the transferring of funds on behalf of non-governmental organizations to Spain.
Respectfully yours,
- Enclosure not printed.↩