852.00/3913: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received November 28—9:25 a.m.]
496. From reports reaching the Embassy, including consular despatches, it appears that active recruiting is taking place in Italy to obtain trained men for General Franco’s forces and that in some instances the recruiting officers are members of the Fascist militia. The Military Attaché has learned from two different sources, both believed to be reliable, that 10,000 Black Shirt militiamen are being selected to be sent from Italy to aid the Spanish insurgents. In addition he reports that approximately 400 machine gunners are being chosen for service in Spain to command machine-gun squads of the insurgent forces. It is further understood that a force of Alpine infantry probably in excess of one battalion is being selected to be held in readiness to go to Spain.
As far as can be ascertained these men are being recruited as individual volunteers and will be shipped to Spanish Morocco where they will be organized and equipped as members of the Spanish foreign legion. The Military Attaché further reports that about 2,000 have sailed to date.
No definite information is available as to the amount of supplies or materials which may have been shipped to aid General Franco.