852.00/6780: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 26—2:27 p.m.]
667. Embassy’s 654, October 21, 1 p.m. In spite of the apparently favorable results of the Spanish Non-intervention Subcommittee’s meeting on October 20, the next meeting on October 22, which was called to give consideration to draft program of action, ended in a new deadlock. The difficulties resulting from this meeting may be summarized as follows: (1) The insistence of Italy (with Germany and Portugal) that the British plan for the withdrawal of foreigners and related measures must be accepted from the beginning as a solemn obligation by all governments represented in the Committee; coupled with (2) the refusal of Russia to accept the British plan as a whole or (according to Monsieur Maisky’s statements at the last meeting) to content herself with mere abstinence while it is put into operation by others. In particular, Russia refuses to consider any recognition of belligerent rights to the Spanish parties until after the evacuation of the last foreigner; and (3) the refusal of Italy, Germany and Portugal to pledge themselves in advance to accept as binding the estimates of the numbers of serving foreigners to be compiled by the commissions which it is proposed to send to each side in Spain; the importance of these estimates being that it is proposed they should determine the numerical proportion between the withdrawals from either side.
These difficulties, with which the meeting of the Subcommittee today is concerned, have been heightened by the uncompromising communiqué issued by Mussolini on October 23. The two main issues now facing the Subcommittee may be stated as: (1) Unanimous acceptance of the British plan. No evidence appears that Russia will recede from her uncompromising stand against the granting of belligerent rights [Page 436] to both sides until there has been complete withdrawal of foreign volunteers. (2) The competence of the commissions of inquiry. Both Italy and Germany refused to be bound in advance by the figures of foreign volunteers which may result from any computation by the commissions. The deadlock might be broken by Italy and Germany receding from their demand that the plan must be accepted unanimously by all members of the Non-intervention Committee. As Italy probably has little real desire to face the possible consequences of a complete breakdown, it should not be difficult for her to make a concession on this point. It would seem futile, however, to speculate at this juncture on possible compromises or face-saving formulas. The real stumbling block apparently is Russia, whose Ambassador has continually shown his contempt for the Non-intervention Committee.