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The Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France, to the Secretary of State
[Received April 5.]
Sir: I have the honor to submit certain facts and conclusions regarding the rebel offensive in Aragon.
- 1.
- It is admitted from every source that the rebels have an unprecedented number of pursuit and bombing planes and artillery but recently brought in from Germany and Italy, and that the planes and artillery are operated by German and Italian officers.
- 2.
- It is admitted, and in insurgent circles even boasted, that high officers of the General Staffs of the German and Italian armies are on the Aragon front in absolute control of the strategy and in actual command of the operations.
- 3.
- There appears to be no doubt of the accuracy of Prieto’s report that within the last two or three days seven German merchantmen with a convoy of one battleship, thought to be the Admiral Scheer, and two destroyers, all German, have been seen off Almeria, thought to be headed to the Balearic Islands where recently the Germans, as well as the Italians, have established their base.
- 4.
- From several people who have recently returned from the Catalan border, I hear that some things are going in to the loyalists from France, but these are described as in “small boxes marked food”, and as probably containing nothing more than cartridges. Certainly no planes or artillery have crossed.
- 5.
- Under all these circumstances Mr. Chamberlain, who now manipulates the so-called Non-Intervention Committee, sees to it that there shall be no meeting of this committee which has not met since the recent influx of German and Italian material began; and it appears from the press that Mr. Chamberlain is determined that there shall be no meeting of the Assembly of the League to consider the situation.
- 6.
- It is reported from Barcelona that a unification for war purposes of the U.G.T.,32 the socialist union, the C.N.T.,33 the syndicalist union, and the Anarchists, has been effected.
Observations.
Unless the ban against selling arms or ammunition, even to antiaircraft guns to the Spanish Government is lifted by the European Democracies, the loyalist army cannot possibly compete against the odds piled up by the unchallenged and open flooding of the Franco army with material from the Fascist Powers. Unless the Government can get planes and artillery to offset the present advantage, the rebels should win in the present offensive without difficulty and very soon.
The admission by the British Ministry that not one word has been said in reprimand or protest to Germany or Italy for their violations of the Non-Intervention Pact they signed since in late September, 1936, needs no commentary. During the intervening period this Committee has been most zealous in enforcing the pact against the Spanish Government. That this policy is to continue there can be no reasonable doubt.
The so-called unification of the two big unions and the anarchists in Barcelona does not impress me as a favorable development for the Government. There never has been any real cooperation between the two unions and I do not think there ever will be. I know from such men as Viscount Mamblas, representing Franco, that for months there have been frequent conferences in Biarritz between representatives of the syndicalists and the Falangists, looking to an amalgamation; I know that the insurgents have counted confidently on the ultimate assistance of the syndicalists; and I know that the syndicalists are against the Spanish constituted authority.
[Page 169]The purported unification appeals [appears?] to me as something to make more effective the treachery of these people at a time when it will count the most. By the “unification” it will be possible in the event of the treachery of the syndicalists to throw the whole defence into confusion at the most critical moment. And that which is true of the syndicalists is even more true of the anarchists.
The attempt to whip a Catalan army into shape at this late-hour is mere mockery. The Catalans have made no contribution to the cause of the Government at any time during the war; and when Catalan regiments have been engaged, they invariably have shown themselves to be cowards or treacherous. In other words, if the defence of Catalonia is up to the Catalans the fight is lost before it begins. I have no doubt but for the presence of the National Government in Barcelona the Catalans would run up the white flag soon after the rebels cross into Catalonia, and I am not at all sure that even the presence of the Government in Barcelona will prevent it.
Respectfully yours,