125.199/56: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), in France
B–382. Your 397, November 19, 1 p.m. Chapman’s instructions are limited to authorizing his return to his post as consul at Bilbao. We have no objection to his seeing Sangroniz at San Sebastian en route to his post, but it must be clearly understood that he is not authorized to discuss any proposal for exchange of agents with the insurgents or to make commitments of any kind in this regard. He should report fully and promptly to the Department on the subject of his conversation with Sangroniz.
It is not clear to us from your telegram whether the salvo conducto given to Chapman is valid only for a trip to San Sebastian or whether it is sufficient to enable him to continue on to Bilbao to resume his duties. We, of course, assume that the latter is the case. We suggest, however, that there be no misunderstanding on this point, and that Chapman not depart from St. Jean de Luz unless he is convinced that he can continue on to Bilbao.