852.00/6012: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 17—9:25 a.m.]
483. My 469, July 14, 1 p.m. A high official of the Foreign Office in conversation this morning expressed gratification at the unanimous agreement of the Non-Intervention Committee yesterday to accept the British plan for a compromise solution of the Spanish deadlock as a basis for discussion. He made the warning statement, however, that this favorable reception should be accepted at the moment without undue optimism. Detailed discussion of the proposals will begin at the meeting of the Chairman’s subcommittee on Tuesday and modifications will undoubtedly be proposed.
According to the Foreign Office the French are disappointed at the rejection of the original British proposal for an Anglo-French naval [Page 362] patrol and the substitution of observers in the ports. The Germans on the other hand it seems were greatly pleased at the inclusion in the British proposals of even a conditional undertaking to grant a measure of belligerent rights to Franco.
The proceedings of yesterday’s meeting of the Non-intervention Committee have been very fully reported in the press and the reaction has been favorable. The Foreign Office feels that at least a hopeful atmosphere has been created for the difficult discussions to begin on Tuesday.