124.52/205: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 12—2:56 a.m.]
821. My 818, November 5, 6 p.m.95
1. The Government is now formally established in Barcelona and first meeting of the Council of Ministers has been held there. The Valencia office of the Ministry of State has been closed and the Secretary General, who was in charge, will depart for Barcelona in the morning.
2. The French Embassy has effected its transfer to Barcelona, and the Belgian Embassy will depart for that city the end of this week.
3. The British Chargé d’Affaires has been advised by the Foreign Office that while the reasons advanced by him in favor of remaining in Valencia are appreciated it feels that the importance of probable negotiations connected with the non-intervention program make it advisable that the British Embassy maintain close contact with the Spanish Government. He will in consequence transfer his Embassy to Barcelona. The removal probably will require several weeks.
4. The Swedish Chargé d’Affaires has been instructed to notify the Spanish Government that he will transfer his Legation to Barcelona when authorization has been granted for the evacuation of certain refugees (a group of 20 military officers) still in asylum in the Swedish Legation in Madrid. He considers this policy unwise and unproductive and will recommend unconditional transfer.
The Danish Chargé d’Affaires is recommending transfer more or less simultaneously with this Embassy.
5. In view of these developments I have now notified my Danish and Swedish [colleagues] that I am disposed to remove this Embassy to Barcelona and would like to make the transfer in unison with them as near as may be practicable.
In view of the possibility that the Swedish Government may persist in its present attitude and that the Danish Government may delay decision I recommend that I be authorized to remove this office to Barcelona without regard to action by any other mission during the week beginning November 22nd.96