352.1115/3761: Telegram
The Consul at Bilbao (Chapman), on Board the U. S. S. “Kane” to the Secretary of State
[Received July 10—6 p.m.]
0010. Department’s 9th. I had been informed on two recent occasions French Consul was threatened with refusal evacuation his nationals should he not take families of Basque and other high officials. It was when Aguirre appeared to be leading toward similar plan that I made suggestion concerning Basque children to be able to evacuate our nationals within our policy not to evacuate Spaniards. Aguirre was informed in the intimate friendly conversation that proposal to evacuate children was entirely unofficial and I am certain he did not misunderstand the position. Less tactful cultivation of officials in power probably would have resulted in disaster rather than the excellent success achieved entirely within our policy.