852.00/2938a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France
B–14. The press this morning quotes a statement from the Argentine Ambassador to Spain, now at Hendaye, in regard to proposals which certain members of the diplomatic corps are understood to have forwarded to the Spanish Government “to humanize as far as possible the civil war in Spain.”
Our policy of strict non-interference in the unfortunate conflict in Spain is, of course, so well known to you and needs no elaboration. We cannot deviate in any way from this policy.
On the other hand, I feel that if, without deviating from this policy of non-interference, we can exert our moral influence in support of impartial steps looking to a more humane conduct of the conflict, we not [Page 520] only should do so, but would thereby give expression to feelings which have deeply moved the American people. Please, therefore, telegraph the text of the proposals which are understood to have been forwarded to Madrid and keep me fully informed of their status in order that I may determine whether there may be practicable means of making known, wholly independently but concurrently with any joint action taken by other governments, our earnest interest in any impartial program designed to render more humane this terrible conflict.