852.00/5906½
President Roosevelt to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
[Washington,] July 3, 1937.
The enclosed25 should, I think, be answered verbally by you to the Mexican Ambassador in the same way in which I answered it verbally: The United States has made the following points perfectly clear to the European nations involved directly or indirectly in the Spanish Civil War:
- (1)
- The United States has honestly maintained not only the letter but the spirit of neutrality.
- (2)
- The United States stands ready to render any service to which both sides can agree looking toward an end of the armed conflict, but cannot take part in patrol or other activities connected with the continuation of the war itself.
- (3)
- The United States has made and continues to make clear its abhorrence of all forms of war which violate either the rules of war or the rules of common humanity.
- (4)
- The United States cannot at this time see its way clear to offer mediation because of the certainty that it would be rejected.
F[ranklin] D. R[oosevelt]