852.00/6753: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France, to the Secretary of State
[Received October 23—10:53 a.m.]
383. Franco by decree just [published?] announces his national council of 48. It resembles in every way the Grand Fascist Council in Rome. This council named for duration of the war after which a new one may be named. The council now named includes all the military chiefs, two former ministers of the former dictator, a priest of Navarre, the former chief of the Carlists and the former Carlist leader in the [Page 435] Cortes, and several prominent Fascists including the daughter of Primo the dictator.
It is announced that Franco will name in a secret paper his own successor who will be proclaimed by the council in the event of Franco’s death or incapacity.
Since Franco names members of the council this gives him supreme and absolute power. The council itself has no executive powers.
Franco expected soon to announce his cabinet selected from among the members of the council.
Full decree and comment follow by the pouch.86
- Not printed.↩