852.00/6263: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:50 p.m.]
748. The Ministry of State has furnished the Embassy a copy of the communication addressed by Señor Giral to the Secretary General of the League of Nations on Saturday with respect to the acts of aggression alleged to have been committed in the Mediterranean recently by vessels of the Italian Navy against Spanish and other merchantmen. This communication, after reciting details of the incidents complained of (all of which have been reported by the press) states that the Spanish Government requests that the matter be placed on the “order of the day” of the Council, invoking Article II of the Covenant, and that it is left to the discretion of the President of the Council and the Secretary General to determine whether an immediate and special meeting of the Council shall be convoked.
I was informed at the Ministry of State that in addition to the appeal to the League, separate communications on the subject are about to be addressed to the British, French, and Russian Governments. While I was not informed of the nature of these communications I received the impression that it is hoped they may result in direct representations to the Italian Government.
Repeated to Ambassador Bowers and Embassy at Paris.