852.00/4229: Telegram
The Vice Consul at Gibraltar (Johnson) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received December 30—2:30 p.m.]
British Admiralty at Gibraltar has furnished following information: New insurgent cruiser Baleares at Cadiz after trial runs North Spain. German battleship Admiral Graf Spee also at Cadiz; other German warships west of Tangier. Blockade of Straits of Gibraltar by insurgents becoming more widespread as now merchant vessels of all nationalities except British being intercepted whereas before only Russian vessels stopped. Today Danish and Belgian merchant ships ordered to stop. Vessels bound for Spanish ports on east coast are escorted Ceuta, and cargo examined for contraband of war.