352.115 Warner and Co., Wm. R./12: Telegram
The Consul General at Barcelona (Perkins) to the Secretary of State
Barcelona, September 24, 1936—8
p.m.
[Received September 25—9 a.m.]
[Received September 25—9 a.m.]
Department’s September 15, 1 p.m.,51 and September 23, 8 p.m., and my September 24, 4 p.m.52
- 1.
- On September 17 the Consulate General addressed a second letter to the local Government giving complete information regarding the American ownership of this company53 and requesting full protection its interests. Yesterday morning the International Banking Corporation [Page 727] was visited by Control Committee of Workers demanding transfer to them of company’s account. In response to urgent telephone call from bank, Consul Braddock delivered a letter stating fully this account was American-owned, was receiving protection of this Consulate General, and requesting that no unauthorized transfers be made. Committee thereupon departed, but returned with Government requisition whereupon bank transferred account to Committee. Requisition of gold account mentioned in my September 10, noon, was made this morning.
- 2.
- For some days the bank has been subject to intermittent pressure in this matter. Had the American status of this account been clear I question whether such action would have been attempted at this juncture. It is imposing a severe strain upon the credulity of Spanish officials and Committee to ask them to accept the American ownership of an account whose status has been reestablished in the manner described in my September 10, noon; and I am convinced that both the bank and Consulate General are exposing themselves to the suspicion of devious practices in asserting such American ownership.
- 3.
- I am, however, chiefly concerned with the question how far representatives of the bank can continue to go without endangering their personal safety in the protection of financial accounts of the various American interests here now exposed to confiscation. These representatives do not as yet share these apprehensions but find it difficult to decide where the zone of personal danger lies. For this is the first requisition that has been made upon an American-owned bank account. I propose to lodge a protest with reference to this seizure but I should like to be informed as soon as possible whether the Department has any specific instructions with regard to its presentation.
Perkins