852.00/4041: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received December 9—3:22 p.m.]
600. After dinner at the Savoy Hotel last night the Foreign Secretary took occasion to tell me that he had been approached by the Argentine Ambassador who had communicated to him the desire of the Argentine Government to attempt mediation in Spain but that he, Eden, preferred to take no steps in this connection without first communicating this fact to Secretary Hull. He stated that the British and French Governments would issue a communiqué today urging the German, Italian and French [Soviet] Governments to agree, first, to a strict policy of non-intervention and, second, to mediation in Spain in view of the fact that the situation was proceeding perhaps inevitably to a European conflict. He informed me his Government had sounded out (see my 595 December 4, 4 p.m.) the German, Italian and Soviet Governments but had received no satisfaction from the German Government, [Page 598] slight encouragement from the Italian Government, and a reply from the Soviet Government that the Quai d’Orsay considered more hopeful than Eden personally did. In any event the British and French Governments felt it essential that this effort expressed a desire however slight the chances of success might be. He then expressed an opinion that the advent of German and Italian troops in Spain coupled with the arrival of Russian military and naval officers and sailors had convinced his Government and the French Government that a situation existed there which might extend to a general European conflict. He stated further that his Government’s information which he felt was accurate convinced him that fully three-fourths of the Spanish people had had enough blood to satisfy them and would welcome an opportunity to end the struggle and although his Government believed that perhaps one-half of the population of Madrid itself sympathize with the insurgents, nevertheless, the insurgents’ effort must collapse should German and Italian support be withdrawn.
He concluded by stating that everyone here looked with admiration on the successful efforts being made by the President and the Secretary of State to establish peace in the Americas and that he was sure this feeling was shared by all who sought peace throughout the world.
At his specific request I undertook to convey to you Eden’s hope that subsequent to the issuing of the proposed communiqué referred to above the American Government might issue some general statement expressing a general blessing on efforts from any source designated to end the Civil War in Spain and the evils thereon attendant.
Although he did not inform me in detail, I understood from him he had instructed the British Ambassador in Washington likewise to present this matter to you.
Please read this cable in connection with my 601, December 9, 8 p.m.