852.00/6178
The Consul at Seville (Doolittle) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 7.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my telegrams of July 27th and July 28th, confirmation copies of which are enclosed69 and to report that this subject was broached in a conversation with General Queipo de Llano on July 26th.
During the past weeks an unusual number of airplanes of American manufacture have been reported as having been brought down by Nationalist anti-aircraft guns and pilots on the Madrid and nearby fronts. These reports accompany the initiation and progress of the last desperate offensive launched by the Madrid forces on July 6th.
The General stated that according to information in his possession these American airplanes were reaching the Valencia Government via Le Havre, where they were received, assembled and then flown to Barcelona. He went on to state that he was aware of the attitude of the American Government in the Spanish struggle but that it undoubtedly had to contend with pressure from the socialist and labor groups for a policy of aiding Red Spain.
In reply, I assured that the policy of the government as it had been received in instructions to all American Consulates and Missions was one of strictest neutrality and that, as he knew, special legislation had even been passed, prohibiting shipments of war material to both sides.
I further stated that in pursuance of this policy it would be of great interest to my Government to receive definite details of any American airplanes brought down in order to trace the sales and sources through which they had been able to evade our legislation on the subject.
The General immediately made a note to request from Salamanca the make, factory numbers and types of all American planes which [Page 596] had fallen within their lines in sufficiently good condition to permit of identification, and promised to communicate the information to this Consulate as soon as received.
I am suggesting to Mr. Bay that he follow up this matter upon his return as it presents another opportunity of showing our good faith in the maintenance of neutrality, although I have gathered the distinct impression that both military officials and civilians in Nationalist Spain are fully cognizant of our policy and appreciate it.
According to the official bulletin issued at Nationalist Headquarters July 26th the following list of warplanes has been brought down since July 6th. A slightly exotic touch is lent to the lists by the Spanish habit of referring to the products of Glenn L. Martin as the Martin Bomberg.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Respectfully yours,
- Neither printed; they reported the alleged appearance of airplanes of American manufacture in the air force of the Valencia government.↩