852.00/8736: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 7:36 p.m.]
1099. There have been certain press reports indicating that Blum’s speech to the National Committee of the Socialist Party on November 8 foreshadowed a change in the French Government’s non-intervention policy as regards Spain. In a conversation today at the Foreign Office it was stated definitely that there was no consideration being given to any change in this policy regarding Spain. What apparently happened, we gather, in the speech before the Socialist Party was that Blum, to satisfy the more militant members of his party, indicated that France would be prepared to consider the question provided Great Britain desired to do so, knowing full well that there was no chance of any change in policy on the part of the British.
It was indicated to us at the Foreign Office that the French and British were in agreement that there was no reason to give consideration, for the time being at least, to the question of recognition of any new regime in Spain. The French are able to maintain satisfactory relations through their consuls with the de facto authorities who are exercising power in that part of the country under control of the Nationalist forces and apparently expect to continue this procedure as regards Madrid after the capture of that city by the Nationalists.
The Foreign Office added in strict confidence that they had just heard that the governmental military forces were withdrawing from Madrid and that utterly paradoxical as it might appear, the Syndicalists and Anarchists who are remaining behind are in negotiation with the Nationalists for the surrender of the city.
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