852.00/4040: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received December 9—3:45 p.m.]
601. It will be noted that the view expressed by Eden reported in my 600 December 9, 7 p.m., is at variance with the views of the Assistant Secretary of State in charge of Spanish affairs and the French Embassy, as reported in my 593, December 3, 6 p.m., and 595, [Page 599] December 4, 4 p.m., and also the views of Vansittart reported in my despatch 2697, December 4.33
I venture my personal opinion that in seeking any action by the American Government Eden confuses the fact that, while he suggests we should make a statement “blessing” any effort to end the Civil War in Spain, what he really wishes is support of the British and French thesis against interference in the Spanish situation by the Governments of Italy, Germany and Russia. While it may be true as Eden states that fully three-fourths of the Spanish people have had enough blood to satisfy them, I believe from the sources of information available to me that this applies to the inarticulate mass of the people and as the situation stands today I am not at all convinced that the leaders on either side in the Spanish struggle desire to arrest the Civil War until their particular side is victorious.
In my opinion therefore the French and British Governments are seeking a compromise solution of peace without victory in Spain primarily to ease the European situation. Consequently I am led to the conclusion that the United States Government should be very clear in its mind before it reaches any decision to make a public statement in regard to Spain, that it does not become by implication involved in the larger European issues inherent in the situation.