852.00/2750: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 22—11:30 a.m.]
781. Reference that part of my confidential telegram 776, August 20, 6 p.m. which reported Blumel’s statement that the French high military and naval command would look with favor on the triumph of the Spanish Government. While I have no doubt that these views are expressed by many officers when speaking with members of the Blum government, and while it may be that the Government believes them, nevertheless, I have in fact considerable doubt that such views are actually held by any considerable majority of the French high military and naval commissioned personnel.
Competent observers who try to look at this question impartially tell me that it would probably be reasonably safe to say that the opinion of French officers is divided on this question: many of these officers feel that French security would ultimately be better guaranteed by a victory of the revolution in Spain which would, they believe, bring about the fall of the Blum government and the establishment in France of a government of the Right which could come to some understanding with Germany and Italy.