852.00/6167: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:40 p.m.]
729. Giral informed me this evening that the British Government appears to be greatly displeased by the decision of the Spanish Government, announced Tuesday, to send a delegation to Geneva in September to request the League of Nations to take action in the Spanish conflict by “applying sanctions pursuant to the pact” and putting an end to the invasion of Spanish soil. He appeared to attribute this attitude to the possibility that the Government’s declaration may embarrass presumed negotiations between Great Britain and Italy concerning the Ethiopian issue. Giral seemed to be discouraged by this development and expressed the belief that as a result of the new trend of Anglo-Italian relations the British Government is veering toward Franco and may independently of the Non-intervention Committee accord him recognition of belligerency.
He expressed the purely personal opinion that nothing further will come of the Non-intervention Committee and that if the appeal to the League is not heeded Spain should and may withdraw from it.