852.00/6910
The Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France, to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: On Friday, October 22, I was called upon by José María Lasarte, a deputy in the Cortes from the Basque country, and Javier de Gortazar, a delegate of the Euzkadi Government in Bayonne, both representing Jésus María de Leizaola, the Minister of Justice in the Basque Government, and presented with a statement regarding the violation of the terms of capitulation made by the Basques with the Italians.
It appears that 14 men have been executed, consisting of two representatives of each of the parties or elements that defended the Basque country. These, according to the information furnished me, had been hostages.
I am also informed that several hundred have been condemned to death but that none of these sentences have been carried out as yet.
I made it clear that there is nothing that we can do since we have no official communication with the insurgent government. These representatives of the Basques said that they understood this to be true but that they wish to inform the outside world of what is going on.
I, therefore, transmit herewith the statement left with me.85
I was informed that the Basque Government has documentary proof of the violations of the terms of the capitulation.
It appears that at this time President Aguirre is in Barcelona. His function seems to be to contact the outside world and he goes back and forth from Spain to Paris where offices are maintained at 11 Avenue Marceau.
I am sending this personally on the theory of perhaps it is just as well not to make it a matter of record, but you will, of course, use your own judgment about that.
Very truly yours,
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