852.00/2998: Telegram
The Third Secretary of Embassy in Spain (Wendelin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:30 p.m.]
X–122. My telegram No. X–119 of September 3, noon.14 Text of note of Foreign Office in literal translation follows:
“In reply to your very kind note of August 31, regarding the bombing of the destroyer Kane of the American Navy by a three-motor, low-winged plane, approximately 38 miles from the Spanish coast and in 36°33’ north latitude and 7°37’ (sic) west longitude, when it was proceeding from Gibraltar to Bilbao to assist in the evacuation of American citizens, a note whose language the Government of the Republic has fully appreciated, I hasten to confirm by this note the telephone conversation which the Under Secretary of this Department had with you yesterday and give you the most absolute assurances on the day on which this disagreeable incident took place, that is to say, the 13th of August, no plane of the Government of the Republic was operating in the said area and furthermore that the aviation corps of the Government of the Republic has no machines of this type. This does not prevent the Government of the Republic from deploring the incident.”
- Not printed.↩