852.00/3911: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Acting Secretary of State
1157. The Italian Ambassador said to me this evening that he had just been in communication with the Italian representative in Geneva and that he anticipated the Italian Government would take the position that the conflict in Spain was not a proper subject for consideration by the League of Nations. He expressed the opinion that the moment had arrived when, in the interest of European peace, it had become necessary to terminate the Spanish conflict by a Franco victory at the earliest possible moment; that an attack in force on Barcelona must be made immediately. He added that the Italians were still apprehensive with regard to the attitude that Great Britain might take if such an attack should be made.
He admitted that Franco’s position had become so dangerous that decisive aid must be brought to him at once or it would be too late.
[Page 577]He expressed the opinion that “Franco” triumph would result in hordes of Communists and Anarchists making their way into France where they would attempt to produce a revolutionary overthrow of the French Government.
He hoped we were aware that just as Germany and Italy could not tolerate a Communist government in Spain they could not tolerate the establishment of a Communist government in France and would have to intervene.
I gathered from the general tenor of his remarks that Mussolini has definitely decided to throw in all the forces necessary to achieve victory for Franco and that he is waiting only to be certain that England will remain passive.
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