Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, General, Volume I

852.2221/767: Telegram

The Counselor of Embassy in Spain ( Thurston ) to the Secretary of State

Barcelona , March 29, 1938—5 p.m.
[Received 5:06 p.m.]

923. I have been advised by the Embassy at Paris and by the New York Times correspondent here that Ernest Hemingway³⁷ is undertaking to arrange for evacuation from Spanish ports of several hundred wounded American members of the international brigades. He will, I understand, request that the Raleigh be utilized for the purpose.

Should the Department feel that such action would be inadvisable it might wish to suggest to the persons who consult it that the Oregon (see Valencia’s March 24, 3 p.m.³⁸) be employed. While not a passenger vessel it probably would be satisfactory for the short trip to Marseille. Arrangements for its use presumably could be made through Sherover³⁹ in New York.

In this connection it is not improbable that we will soon be confronted by the problem of more or less numerous requests for protection by active members of the American section of the international brigades. A telegram on this subject is being drafted by the Consulate General and I recommend that constructive instructions be furnished as quickly as possible.

Thurston

37. American novelist and newspaper correspondent.
38. Not printed; it reported the arrival of the Oregon laden with 8,800 tons of Australian wheat (195.91/3519).
39. Miles M. Sherover, president of Hanover Sales Corp., 30 Broad St., New York, N. Y.