852.00/7803
The Secretary of State to the Spanish Chargé (De la Casa)
Sir: Acknowledgment is made of the note of His Excellency the Ambassador of Spain, No. 139/08 of April 20, 1938, referring to His Excellency’s notes Nos. 138/23 and 139/04 of March 31 and April 7, 1938,63 and submitting further data communicated by the Spanish Government regarding acts of international aggression against Spain. His Excellency’s note under acknowledgment expresses the hope of the Spanish Government that the Government of the United States will not continue to maintain the arms embargo against Spain.
The policy of the Government of the United States is actuated by the desire to keep this country out of war and to avoid interference of any kind in the internal affairs of another country. It was for this reason that this Government, in August, 1936, in view of the danger of serious international complications arising out of the conflict in Spain, declared its policy of strict noninterference in that conflict and at the same time announced that the export of arms from this country to Spain would be contrary to such policy. The fundamental reason for the enactment of the Joint Resolution of Congress of January 8, 1937, prohibiting the exportation of arms, ammunition, and implements of war to Spain during the existence of the state of civil strife now obtaining in that country, was to implement this policy by legislation. This Joint Resolution was passed unanimously in the Senate and in the House of Representatives by a vote of 406 to 1.
In view of the continued danger of international conflict arising from the circumstances of the present struggle in Spain, this Government would not feel justified in undertaking to change its present policy with respect to the exportation of arms, ammunition, and implements of war from this country to Spain. Such a change in policy would, moreover, require special action by the Congress in view of the express provisions of the Joint Resolution of January 8, 1937, which gave that policy legislative effect.
Accept [etc.]
- Neither printed.↩