752.00114/16: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:10 p.m.]
963. The British Minister informed me this noon that he is hopeful that negotiations he has been conducting for some time with a view to a mass exchange of political prisoners including all remaining refugees in foreign diplomatic missions are about to be brought to a successful conclusion. He stated that the Council of Ministers last night approved a proposal that a commission should be appointed for the exchange of such prisoners to be composed of one British, one American, and one French or Scandinavian member. The members of the commission are to be nominated by King George. Should he decline the task President Roosevelt will be requested to nominate them. The commission itself will be empowered to select its chairman and will have full powers to inaugurate, negotiate, and effect the exchange. One half the cost of the exchange will be borne by the Spanish Government and the other by Franco whose regime apparently accepted the proposal in principle some time ago—although at that time only one commissioner was contemplated and the full new proposal will now require his approval.
I received the impression from Mr. Leche that it is contemplated by the British Government that if the exchange plan meets with success advantage may be taken of the opportunity to try to bring about an armistice and possible peace negotiations.