852.00/2876: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France, to the Secretary of State
[Received August 29—2:05 p.m.]
79. It is proposed that the Diplomatic Corps submit by telegraph to the Government an offer of intercession in behalf of civilian prisoners and to ask for cessation of shelling of cities without defense and an agreement for protection of national monuments and works of art. In this telegram the Corps to ask Government if it has any objection to the submission of the same proposal to the rebel leaders. Should Government give consent and rebels agree, the participation of the Corps would be “by the means most appropriate in each case, notably by despatch of commissions ad hoc, by the intermediary of military, naval or air bodies, by an appeal to the Red Cross, et cetera.” The [Page 518] Corps is divided in its sympathies and the failure thus far of agreement by French Ambassador and Government seemed to emphasize this situation. There seems to be no doubt that France, Germany and Italy have all been guilty of interference in this domestic quarrel. I have stood aloof awaiting such instructions as the Department may send.
The proposed exchange of civilian prisoners may be considered one sided by the Government since its civilian prisoners are persons of great power and influence who are enemies of the regime while the civilian prisoners of the rebel forces are people of no importance in so far as I know.
The proposed ending of shelling of unprotected cities and the protection of national monuments and works of art bears equally on both sides. The proposal is also to protect besieged cities against loss of many days’ water, food et cetera. Thus it will be observed it is proposed to end the taking of cities by shelling or by the slow process of siege which, in its very nature, means a starving of a city into submission. This seems to weaken the protest against taking a besieged city by storm.
Neither the French nor Dutch representatives have agreed to the program, awaiting the decision of their Governments. Should Government rebuff the Corps the rebel leaders will not be approached.
It will be one thing if the various nations represented on proposed commissions work harmoniously and without regard to the sympathies of themselves or Government; should they divide on the policy to be pursued in accordance with their sympathies we would, if represented, have to take a stand and that would be another thing.
In meetings thus far the following nations have been represented: Argentine, British, France, Italy, Belgium, Norway, Holland, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Sweden and at the first meeting the Mexican. We had not participated for reasons known to the Department and approved by it. I do not personally know of any nation represented here that has not attended.