852.00/4977
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (Moore)
This afternoon the Spanish Ambassador called and presented the memorandum addressed to the Secretary hereto attached47 which as he explained draws attention of our Government to the alleged fact that there are a very large number of troops of the regular army of Italy now in Spain fighting under the Franco colors. He talked a good deal about it being extraordinary that Franco is now receiving the assistance of a very large number of soldiers sent into Spain from Italy and Germany and he is inclined to predict that the downfall of Fascism would date from the defeat of the rebels in Spain even though having the assistance of soldiers from the Fascist countries just as the downfall of Napoleon dated from the defeat of the Spanish Bourbons in Spain who had the assistance of French soldiers.
He said he might mention privately but would do so officially if necessary that the liberal governments of Europe are distrustful of the International Red Cross.
The Ambassador seemed very optimistic as to the outcome of the crucial struggle now in progress in Spain. One thing he said which is very interesting if true that just as the French soldiers more than a hundred years ago did not seem intensely interested in fighting in Spain so now the Italians indicate anything but an intense mood by the way in which they fraternize with the Spanish soldiers.
- Infra.↩