881.00/1627
The Secretary of State to the Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Tangier (Blake)
Sir: The Department has received your despatch No. 1204 of October 2, 1936,71 reporting on current events in Tangier. It was particularly interested in the conversation you had with the British Vice-Admiral Geoffrey Blake, concerning the visit of American warships to Tangier for the protection of the American colony in case of need, and it wishes to commend you for the reply you made to the British Vice Admiral.
In view of the desire of this Government to observe the strictest neutrality between the factions in the Spanish civil war, it would be reluctant to send war vessels to Tangier unless the danger to the lives of American citizens there were acute and the facilities offered by [Page 745] merchant vessels for evacuating them were insufficient. Thus, by replying to the British Vice Admiral in the terms you used, you interpreted this policy accurately.
Very truly yours,
- Not printed.↩