852.48/11a: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to the Third Secretary of Embassy in Spain (Wendelin)45
Certain of our officers have suggested that the American Red Cross might be requested to allot to our Consuls in Spain an amount of money to give to the Red Cross in their respective districts. We have pointed out to these officers that we are very anxious to avoid any action which might in any way be considered as having the appearance of taking sides in the present unfortunate situation in Spain and have therefore instructed them courteously to refuse to contribute [Page 722] to local Red Cross or other relief funds in view of the danger that contributions to such funds might be regarded in some quarters as indistinguishable from contributions to one or the other faction. In the meantime, the American Red Cross itself has been giving consideration to this problem. It feels that it would not be opportune at this time to launch an appeal for funds in the United States nor to send any personnel to Spain. It has, however, now made a contribution of $10,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross which, after consultation both with the Government at Madrid and the revolutionary Junta at Burgos, has undertaken to establish delegations at Madrid and Barcelona on the one side and Burgos and Seville on the other.
The foregoing is furnished you only as background information not for dissemination in the hope that it may perhaps be of some value in aiding you to deal with local solicitations for contributions to relief funds.
- Sent also to all Consulates in Spain, except Bilbao and Malaga.↩