852.00/2240: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Straus) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 24—9:35 a.m.]
644. With regard to the situation in Spain, we were informed at the Foreign Office this morning that the French Government has one destroyer off San Sebastián, one on the north coast to evacuate French nationals from Bilbao and Santander, a cruiser stationed at Barcelona, a destroyer on the east coast between Maka and Valencia and a small destroyer will attempt to go up the river to Seville. It was stated that these ships will all endeavor to evacuate French nationals wherever this seems advisable and that they would of course take on board any Americans who desire to make use of these facilities.58
Referring to Department’s 245, July 23, 7 p.m.,59 appropriate instructions are being sent to the French authorities at Marseille.
- By telegram No. 249, July 24, 5 p.m., the Secretary of State instructed the Ambassador to inform the Foreign Office of his deep appreciation of the offer of the French Government.↩
- Not printed; it instructed the Ambassador to take up with the French authorities the question of making provision for the landing at Marseille of such Americans as might be evacuated from Spain (852.00/2209).↩