852.00/8532: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 12—7:52 a.m.]
1059. My 1056, October 10, 10 p.m. [a.m.]. The Minister of State informed me last evening that there is no basis for the speculation now current regarding a negotiated settlement of the Spanish conflict. He added that while no direct proposals have been presented the Spanish Government has been indirectly approached and has made unmistakably clear its rejection of any attempt to impose peace.
Señor Del Vayo stated that the plan of his Government is to bring to an issue the question of foreign participation in the war by removing all foreigners from the Loyalist forces (see No. 105897) in the expectation that a similar course must thereafter be followed by the rebels. Once all foreigners are out of Spain the Government will press for the abandonment of the Non-intervention Pact and the substitution for it of a policy of bona fide neutrality. Thereafter the two Spanish parties to the conflict would fight it out.
The Minister stated that the Government has full confidence in its ability to continue the war (see last two paragraphs of telegram 1022, August 14, 8 [10] p.m.). He admitted the gravity of the food situation however and said that Negrín and several members of the Government have removed to a village in the Pyrenees in order to devote exclusive attention to that problem.
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