852.2221/190
The Consul General at Barcelona ( Perkins ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 25.]
Sir: With reference to my despatch No. 174 of January 5, 1937, entitled “Foreign Volunteers in the Spanish War”,22 I have the honor to state that I am reliably informed that within the past two days there have passed through Barcelona coming from France, two contingents of American volunteers. The first consisted of 60 Americans, divided into two groups of equal number, each group carrying an American flag. On the following day, a further sixteen volunteers arrived. All of these were sent onward toward the front on the day of their arrival in Barcelona. To the person who inquired their reason for coming to Spain, the reply was made that they had come to fight for their principles. So far as I am aware, these have been the first American volunteers, apart from a few scattered individuals, to come to Spain during the present civil war.
I am uninformed whether any of these Americans, some of whom were under age, possessed American passports. It would not be necessary for them to have such passports in order to enter Spain to “join up”. A short time ago, I read that such a group had sailed from New York and that several hundred more purposed to leave for Spain.
None of these “volunteers” appeared at the Consulate General; but, in view of the hardships which they will soon undergo, I am apprehensive [Page 470] that some of them will be calling for assistance in the not distant future. I should be glad to be informed of the Department’s general attitude toward the question of expatriation and loss of the right of protection of American citizens enlisting in the loyalist armies. I am not informed whether any oath of allegiance is required, but I doubt if such is the case. A telegraphic instruction would be appreciated.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩