852.00/4870: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 5—9:45 a.m.]
X–529. Following last night’s meeting of Council of Ministers the statement quoted below was made public:
“The Government of the Republic, which of the opinion that no comparison can be drawn between those who convinced of the justice of the Republic cause spontaneously came here to fight under its flags thus defending at once the liberty, and the peace of Europe and those who belonging to units of the armies of the totalitarian states were sent in obedience to specific orders of their respective Governments to uphold by force of arms the military rebellion, resolutely accepts the idea of the reembarkation of all the foreigners who on the side of the Government and on the side of the rebels participated in the present struggle—an idea to which clear allusions have been made by the Foreign Ministers of France and Great Britain in their last addresses before the French Senate and the House of Commons. The Government of the Republic makes its own that initiative, and declares itself disposed to cooperate toward its realization once the indispensable reciprocity has been assured”.
Repeated to Ambassador Bowers.