852.00/8066: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 10—2:15 p.m.]
498. My 497, June 9, 8 p.m. and despatch 494, June 9. Last night I saw Cadogan72 and asked him what his Government was planning to do in connection with the bombing of British ships in Spanish waters. He told me that the situation had the Cabinet almost distracted. It has been decided to discuss with the French the question of an armistice in Spain and this possibility has already been taken up with the French Government. They received an intimation late last night to the effect that the French were disposed to go along. If the British can get a definite answer that the French will be agreeable to stop all movements of troops and ammunition across the border, they will then ask Italy to approach the German Government with the same end in view. They realize here that it is rather a hopeless task because both the Germans and the Russians and even the French are not at all desirous that the recent Anglo-Italian agreement73 shall go into effect. Cadogan said they feel that if Italy really wanted to put this agreement into effect she must use her influence to hold the Germans off in the Spanish situation.
Beyond this question of arranging an armistice, he said, the British feel they are frankly up against it. British shippers are crying for protection and the country is beginning to feel without realizing what the result might finally be that this Government is not courageous and states that England’s great prestige is rapidly diminishing. Cadogan said that the Prime Minister’s answer so far has been that it is much more courageous to proceed along his line of policy and take the charges of cowardice than it is to take up a position which would mean war in three or four places at once simply because Great Britain does not approve of the bombing. The British, Cadogan said, are not very proud of any solution that they are thinking about because they realize that none of these solutions reasons very well but there is a feeling that they will try any idea that anybody suggests which still adheres to the principle of not going to war.
[Page 216]Although Franco brings The Chargé that the bombed ships are carrying contraband, Cadogan said that the indignation of the captains of these vessels on the whole subject of attacks leads them to believe here that the ships are not gun runners but are carrying food and other nonmilitary products. Franco would contend, however, that such materials were strengthening his enemy even though they might not be official contraband.