852.00/4526: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom ( Atherton ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 29—3:43 p.m.]
37. Yesterday’s meeting of the Non-intervention Committee ended with the decision to refer to the various Governments for instruction and to meet again on Tuesday next.
[Page 235]The scheme under consideration entailed the introduction of legislation by each country against “volunteers” and a system of control; this latter to be established either at the ports of embarkation or a neutral port or ports designated where all vessels must submit to an inspection and apply for a certificate to visit Spanish ports. The Spanish coast would be patrolled by naval vessels and any infringements of this control system reported immediately to the London Non-intervention Committee. Roughly the German and Italian fleets would patrol Mediterranean ports together with the British who would also patrol the Gibraltar area. The French would patrol the northern ports. Likewise the Portuguese, Spanish and Franco-Spanish land frontiers were to be patrolled.
Three great difficulties arose (first) Portugal was adamant as to her good faith and that she would not permit foreign patrol of her border, (secondly) the French did not wish their navies to patrol the Franco ports and, (thirdly) the Soviets were anxious to bring their fleet from the Black Sea. Apparently the attitude of the Germans and Italians was most correct and even helpful.
The Foreign Office points out the difficulties of the situation especially since no one nation trusts another and that even in the present month Italian volunteers are reported as landing in considerable numbers at Cadiz. However, the Foreign Office considers that all the nations represented in the Committee appear desirous of liquidating the Spanish situation to some extent and is accordingly hopeful that these present deliberations of the Committee may not be entirely fruitless.
The question of Spanish gold in France was not raised yesterday but the Foreign Office understand the Soviets are willing to modify their former position and permit discussion of this question.
Copy to Paris and Rome.