852.00/2767: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 24—3 p.m.]
261. My 257, August 18, 6 p.m. The following has just been announced by the semiofficial DNB.
[Page 510](Translation) “As we hear the German Government has been informed that all nations in question have joined the proposed declaration concerning an arms embargo vis-à-vis Spain. The German Government hereupon informed the French Government that it would now put the arms embargo in force in Germany to take effect immediately.
This decision has been reached although the discussions with the Government in Madrid concerning the release of the German transport plane could not yet be concluded. Naturally the demand for release lodged with the Spanish Government is not affected hereby. The German Government, moreover, in its communication to the French Government expressed the urgent expectation that now the other governments involved, insofar as this is not yet the case, would take the necessary steps to insure effective execution of the measures agreed upon.”
Following the German protest to Madrid with regard to the Kamerun affair, the consequent strong statement by the German high naval command, the protests to Moscow and Spain regarding radio broadcasts inimical to Germany and the veritable blast in the German press during the past week against Russian and Spanish Communism created a rather tense situation here at the end of the week. This has suddenly subsided which the announcement above seems to embody.
The German attitude with regard to Spain, however, is still too confused for detailed comment or conclusions. I might add meanwhile that the outburst in the German press referred to above may quite probably have been principally for local consumption rather than indicating any immediate intention to intervene or use the Spanish situation for any international purposes except as this may be an advantageous background in connection with negotiations preliminary to and at the time of the Locarno discussions.
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