852.00/6741: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 21—4:35 p.m.]
802. Department’s 402, October 20, 2 p.m.
1. When discussing the transfer of the Government to Barcelona I have endeavored to avoid giving the impression that any decision has been reached with respect to the removal of our Embassy.
2. The British Chargé d’Affaires has recommended to his Government that the British Embassy be not transferred to Barcelona. His negative recommendation is based upon the following personal and official considerations: (a) The physical inconvenience, as his household numbers about 60 persons, including several Spanish guests formerly imprisoned; (b) the fact that much money has been expended on the Embassy quarters here; (c) that the Embassy would lose contact with Madrid; (d) that it is engaged in the evacuation of refugees; and (e) that it would be awkward for him and prejudicial to the British Consul General at Barcelona, a senior officer resident there for the last 12 years. The Foreign Office has not replied to this recommendation.
The French Chargé d’Affaires takes it for granted that his Embassy will follow the Government to Barcelona. He is of the opinion that the retention of the French Embassy in Valencia after the Government had departed would be pointless and that it would be impracticable for it to carry on negotiations with the Government at such a distance.
I have not consulted the Mexican and Soviet representatives as it is to be assumed that they would accompany the Government.
3. Should the Embassy remove to Barcelona I would recommend that the Consulate be maintained here. In that contingency it would become a valuable means of communication with Madrid. It is probable moreover that the closing of the Consulate, in the absence of military developments threatening its safety, would be misconstrued.
4. Mr. Flood reports rumors indicating that the presumed complications arising from the installation of the Government in Catalonia may be disposed of by creating a federal district in Barcelona.
[Page 433]Conferences with Companys continue here but no official statement has yet been issued.