852.00/5281: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 1—4:10 p.m.]
562. Referring to my telegram No. 561, April 30, 10 p.m.75 Del Vayo, Spanish Foreign Minister, discussed at length the present situation in Spain. He said that the Government had absolutely accurate information with regard to Franco’s forces. He asserted that they consisted at the present time of 70,000 Italians, 10,000 Germans—not infantry but aviators, artillery, et cetera—125,000 Moroccans and approximately 45,000 Spaniards.
He stated that one of the causes of the Italian defeat at Guadalajara had been divided command between Franco’s generals and the Italian generals and added that the present attack on Bilbao was entirely under the command of Germans. He expressed the opinion that it might conceivably be possible for Bilbao to hold out but he feared the city would fall and the waning morale of Franco’s troops would then improve. He expressed, however, absolute confidence in the ultimate outcome of the war saying that in the end the Government was bound to triumph. He asserted that there was more cohesion today on the Government side between Communists, anarchists, [Page 292] et cetera, than there had been at any time since the fighting began.
Del Vayo was absolutely emphatic in stating that the Government did not desire and would not look with favor on any move at the present time in the direction of mediation. If Franco should fail to capture Bilbao he was confident that the morale of Franco’s armies would collapse rapidly and he would expect Franco to be defeated by the month of July. If Franco should capture Bilbao, the war would be much longer.
Del Vayo stated that he hoped to be able to persuade the London Committee to press for withdrawal of all foreign “volunteers” from Spain. He admitted that the international brigade on the Government side had been so decimated that it did not amount to much more than 10,000 troops and said that Franco had on his side at least 80,000 foreign troops.
- Not printed.↩