352.1121 Patriarca, Vincent J./18: Telegram
The Third Secretary of Embassy in Spain (Wendelin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:10 p.m.]
X–210. Department’s telegram No. 156, October 12, 8 p.m. I obtained interview with Minister of State this afternoon to discuss Patriarca case. Señor Alvarez del Vayo raised the subject on his own initiative before I mentioned it. He informed me that he and the Minister of Marine and Air, Señor Prieto, had discussed case with Lasu [Largo] Caballero and latter had agreed that in deference to interest of United States Government therein, Patriarca would not be executed. The Minister likewise requested me to inform my Government of this decision in strict confidence to avoid press reports being sent to Spain that Spanish Government had given such assurances. If such reports should become known here, the Government would find it difficult to prevent individual efforts to kill him because of intense public bitterness against rebel aviators. Señor Alvarez del Vayo assured me that Patriarca would be treated with all possible consideration and promised to obtain for me a pass permitting Embassy to send him special food required because of his intestinal ailment.
In strict confidence the Minister of State promised, without my having made any suggestion, that in perhaps 2 weeks he would suggest to the Prime Minister the advisability of deporting Patriarca under guarantee of Embassy to avoid possible danger of some individual attempt against his life. He cannot make this suggestion at [Page 737] once for fear of hostile public reaction, and perhaps also present opposition other members of Government.
The attitude of the Government in this case, as well as in others, has been unhesitatingly friendly toward us and we have unusual evidence of action taken to do all possible to satisfy our legitimate requests on behalf of American nationals. I respectfully request that assurances obtained from Spanish Government in Patriarca case be not made public as this would embarrass Government here and in all probability destroy any chance of later obtaining his evacuation. Interested persons could be assured merely that it was known his life not in danger.