352.1115/199: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston)
295. Consulate’s February 24, 6 p.m.49 Barcelona Consulate reports R … now under arrest there. We have instructed Franklin50 to endeavor to induce local authorities to postpone any action until instructions can be received from Department. Please get in touch with Franklin in this matter as quickly as possible. If authority of Valencia Government in Barcelona is sufficient to bring about R …’s release for evacuation by Consulate, take up his case in this sense with appropriate authorities at earliest opportunity. Otherwise instruct Franklin to suggest orally to local authorities the desirability of such a solution of the case. Point out to Franklin, however, that such action can be requested only on the basis of mutual goodwill and a desire to avoid incidents which would undoubtedly affect public opinion in the United States most unfavorably. If the Catalan authorities reject Franklin’s suggestion that R … be evacuated we can authorize him only to endeavor to induce them to take a lenient view of R …’s desertion and impose as mild a punishment as possible.