852.00/5568: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:43 p.m.]
709–711. Reference my 707 and 708, May 31, noon. Delbos telephoned me at 4:30 this afternoon to inform me with regard to a conversation he had just had with the German Ambassador. He stated that Eden had had a similar conversation with the German Ambassador in London.
Delbos said that the German Ambassador, Count von Welzcek, had no information whatsoever with regard to the action of his Government. He is not a Nazi and is usually left completely in the dark with regard to the policies of his Government.
Delbos said that he had pointed out to Von Welzcek that the Spanish rebels had destroyed several French planes and committed other acts injurious to French interests but that France had not gone in for reprisals. The French Government viewed most seriously the action of the German Government in taking unilateral action and felt that if the war in Spain was to be prevented from becoming an European conflagration it would be necessary that no government should resort to reprisals similar to the bombardment of Almeria.
Delbos said that he had then informed the German Ambassador that François-Poncet had had a conversation with Neurath at noon. Neurath had stated that the bombardment of Almeria by the German fleet had been an isolated act of reprisal and that no further acts of reprisal were to be expected. Neurath had then stated to Poncet that although Germany would not withdraw formally from the London Committee the German representatives would not sit with the Committee until the Committee should have made arrangements that would make it impossible for incidents such as the bombing of the Deutschland to be repeated. (Blum who telephoned me shortly after Delbos had finished speaking to me said that Poncet had informed him that in addition to refusing to sit with the London Committee Germany would withdraw her ships from patrol duty in Spanish waters.)
Delbos went on to say that he had pointed out to the German Ambassador that it was impossible for the London Committee to be given power to prevent such incidents as the attack on the Deutschland and the German Government’s condition for cooperation in the work of the [Page 312] London Committee therefore seemed to him to be one which it was impossible to fulfill and in fact nonsensical. Delbos asserted that Von Welzcek admitted to him privately that it seemed nonsensical to him also.
Delbos concluded by saying that it was his personal opinion that the Germans had now “spat out their venom” and that they were not likely to overcome Valencia or Barcelona.
Blum said to me that while it seemed unlikely to him that Germany would commit further acts of reprisal immediately nevertheless he believed negotiations for the settlement of the incident would be prolonged and difficult and that it still might have serious results.
Neither Blum nor Delbos has yet received confirmation of the report that the Spanish Government has demanded immediate convocation of the Council of the League of Nations but both believe that the Spanish Government will take this action.