852.00/2181: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham)

272. The Consul at Gibraltar has informed the Department that the Captain of His Majesty’s ship the Shamrock is in contact with the American Consul at Malaga and has assured the Consul that all possible measures will be taken for the safeguarding of British and Americans in Malaga.51 I wish you would express to the appropriate British [Page 628] authorities our appreciation for this cooperation which is being extended to our interests in Spain. Please also inform him that as a precautionary measure the U. S. S. Oklahoma now at Cherbourg has been detached from the training cruise and ordered to proceed to the northern coast of Spain in order to be in contact with San Sebastián, Bilbao and Vigo and that the U. S. S. Quincy now en route to Europe has been diverted from its course and ordered to proceed to Gibraltar to await further orders. I trust that the arrival of the Quincy at Gibraltar will be acceptable to the British.

Hull
  1. In telegram of July 22, 11 a.m., the Consul at Gibraltar reported the escape of American tourists from Malaga in the Shamrock (852.00/2191).