852.00/4098: Telegram
The Consul at Gibraltar (Williams) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 4:22 p.m.]
Following from Bay.
“December 11, 3 p.m. 16. Referring to my telegram number 15, November 29, 3 afternoon, Captain Strunk arrived Seville yesterday from Madrid front. He states that despite severe losses Franco’s forces will hold all territory occupied and will conquer more. Most of the Germans in Seville, however, have been moved to Madrid to stiffen the line and with other reenforcements the capture of Madrid before Christmas is being planned. Without German men and material he states Franco’s forces would collapse and the successful conclusion of the struggle depends on German and Italian support. He sees no composition of the struggle which he says has developed beyond a Civil War and involves issues with Russian Communism which is not defeated here will entail greater bloodshed in other parts of Europe. He is flying to Rome today to give first hand information about Spain to Mussolini and then to Berlin for reporting directly to Hitler. He is recommending to the latter the despatch of more material especially planes and more men.
From a political viewpoint Strunk feels that Azaña desired neither Communism nor an influential church, a policy which he thought superior to Franco’s so-called Savior army which presages the return more or less of the old order with landowners and a strong church as well as the possibility of future conflict between Monarchists and Fascists. The salvation of Spain he thought depended on a leader with sufficient support to eliminate Communism and the political influence of the clergy as well as to require Spanish aristocracy to bear a much larger share of the burden. As neither of the contending parties to the present struggle are capable of attaining these ends it is his opinion that Germany offers the only solution.
The unexpected prolongation of the struggle, the severe losses suffered by Franco’s best troops which is competent to defeat any Spanish resistance and the possibilities of conflict between Monarchist and Fascist organizations has in my opinion weakened Franco’s position vis-à-vis aristocracy, church, and foreign influence.”