852.00/4172a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France
B–94. We are informed by Navy Department that on completing overhaul the Kane will leave Gibraltar December 22nd for Valencia in response to request from Wendelin and will proceed thence to Ville-franche. The Hatfield, unable to make more than 11 knots because of breakdown of one engine, has put in at Gibraltar for repairs and will probably arrive at La Pallice about December 28th.
[Page 785]Since the Erie has just completed a trip along the north coast of Spain we assume that you will not be seriously inconvenienced by the Hatfield’s delayed arrival. In any case, we should not wish to send one of our vessels into any north coast port after December 20th until there had been time, probably several days, to determine the degree to which the insurgents carry out their announced intention of closing those ports with mines after that date.