852.00/8435: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France, to the Secretary of State
[Received September 9—10 a.m.]
522. I saw the Spanish Ambassador in Paris Wednesday and he showed me what purports to be documentary proof that during the last 7 weeks 30,000 more Italian troops have reached Spain along with many shiploads of arms and ammunition from Italy and Germany unloaded mostly at Algeciras. He says that during the fighting, from the now abandoned Sagunto offensive through the Ebro campaign, Franco has suffered from 40 to 50,000 casualties. His losses certainly have been heavier than at any time since the war began. Under the circumstances even the Non-Intervention Committee cannot possibly believe that Franco has the slightest intention of agreeing to the withdrawal of his foreign troops and material. The Ambassador says that of the 13 divisions now engaged on the Ebro front 8 are Italian. These include recent reenforcements from Italy.