852.00/5498: Telegram (part air)
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 23—6:15 a.m.]
151. The Spanish Government has now definitely requested the Secretary General to place the Spanish question on the agenda of the forthcoming Council.
[Page 301]I am informed as follows from confidential sources. The Spanish Government has prepared a document for presentation to the Council embodying extensive “proofs” of German and Italian military intervention. During his recent visit to Paris Del Vayo conferred respecting the presentation of this material with the Quai d’Orsay which endeavored to persuade him to tone down his allegations. The ostensible objectives of the Spanish in the Council will be (a) to obtain the sending of a League commission of inquiry to Spain, (b) to procure in some form an indictment of Germany and Italy as aggressors. While the Spanish do not expect to obtain League action in these respects they hope to attain substantial advantages by the employment of the Council as a forum for rousing world, especially French and British, public opinion in their favor which might result among other things in a stiffening of the French and British positions in the London Committee.
The recent change in the Spanish Government is not expected to affect this policy as it has been announced that Del Vayo will represent Spain in Geneva.
It is anticipated that formal Council action will be confined to referring the matter to the London Committee.