852.00/5120
The Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France, to the Secretary of State
[Received April 10.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that, as was inevitable, there have been repercussions to the rout of the Italians on the Guadalajara front and it is problematical what importance may be attached to these. There is no underestimating the humiliating nature of the rout, or the effect on the prestige of Mussolini and his “legionnaires”. Nothing has reached diplomatic circles here indicative of Mussolini’s purpose. It is not now so strongly felt that he may lose his head completely, openly repudiate his nonintervention agreement, and pour thousands more of the “legionnaires” into Spain. But it is not the feeling here that he will abandon his Spanish adventure. Having constantly disregarded his pledges in the past, it is assumed that he will continue to send troops and supplies with a full knowledge that any denial he may make will be accepted by both England and France as in the past.
The most impressive effect of the rout has been the effect on the relations of the Italians and the Spanish insurgents. Even here in this hotbed of pro-rebel sympathizers one hears open expressions of pleasure over the humiliation of the Italian army. Mr. Kearney, the Irish Minister, who was in Salamanca at the time of the Italian flight, tells me that he was utterly dumbfounded by the open expressions of satisfaction on the part of the Spanish military authorities because [Page 269] of the blow to Italian prestige. They insist that the Italians, condescending toward the Spaniards, demanded that they be permitted to take Guadalajara and encircle Madrid. The Spaniards resented the implied insult but acquiesced under a sort of duress. The fact that Franco had to send Moors and Carlists to check the Italian flight clearly gives satisfaction to the insurgents.
This feeling may be explained by the fact that both the Italians and the Germans have, ever since coming to Spain, quite openly sneered at the Spanish army and ridiculed the military prowess of General Franco. I personally know this to be true. They have swaggered a great deal, demanded and secured precedence over Spaniards in hotels and cafes, and belittled the Spanish people at public bars. Several incidents have resulted, as at the Bar Basque in San Sebastian where some Spanish officers, resenting the insults, precipitated a fight. The average Spaniard, no matter how ardently devoted to the insurgent cause, has found the presence of arrogant foreigners on his soil as offensive as it has ever been throughout history.
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Respectfully yours,