852.00/4668: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 12—4 p.m.]
63. My 48, February 5, 7 p.m.34 The Non-intervention Committee adjourned today until Monday. Discussions this week have dealt, first, with the continued refusal of the Portuguese to permit the establishment of a control on the Portuguese-Spanish land frontier, and secondly, control by sea, since the Soviets have put forward a request that Soviet warships should be associated with the other powers.
The refusal of the Portuguese Government is embarrassing to Blum in accepting any control on the Franco-Spanish frontier. The Foreign Office stated that the French Consul General in Barcelona counted arrival of 8,000 volunteers from France during the month of January and the Foreign Office considers this is only a part statement.
To meet the Soviet contention, the Technical Committee of the Nonintervention Committee is considering a plan for control by the warships of only four powers, omitting the Soviets and one other power, possibly Germany or Portugal.
[Page 240]The Foreign Office, however, was willing to admit these discussions might be entirely academic in view of Franco’s success. The Foreign Office understands there is basis for the rumor that the Catalonians (as opposed to the Anarchists in Barcelona) have opened secret discussions with Franco. The Foreign Office confirmed my understanding that Ambassador Chilton is in contact with the Burgos government “as occasion requires.” In the recent trade conversations a Board of Trade representative was sent out direct from London to Burgos.
I understand the German Ambassador in his visit at the Foreign Office yesterday stated his desire to go over in detailed explanation any parts of Herr Hitler’s recent speech that seemed to require clarification and that the visit was without incident.
The Foreign Office stated the present French economic situation was still causing concern.
- Not printed.↩