752.00114/32: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France, to the Secretary of State
[Received July 18—11:05 a.m.]
503. Your telegram No. 445 July 16, 3 p.m.83 Does the Department realize that at this moment and on its authorization I am engaged with the Marquis de Rialp, head of Franco’s commission for exchange of prisoners, in arranging exchanges involving some Americans; that I see him in my office two and three times a week; that since I am rendering his people a service they solicited I am in perfect position to ask reciprocation; that my negotiations promise early success and that it will be difficult either in Barcelona or Burgos to understand why this work is shifted from the Ambassador to a Consul unless intended as a reflection on the former. I assume, of course, that is not the purpose but I know the Spaniards. The British are seeking the exchange of their prisoners through their Embassy here and not through their agent in Burgos, and if we wish to have our own prisoners released through an exchange I respectfully submit that the initiative should be taken by the Ambassador who is in position to summon De Rialp to his office. In working out the details Bay can be used. I have had [Page 312] no intimation that the Department is interested in securing the release of these prisoners, else through De Rialp and Del Vayo, with both of whom I am in friendly contact, I could have had the negotiations started long ago. It may interest the Department to know that the British who have been working in conjunction with the International Red Cross to effect an exchange of British prisoners have made little progress in almost five months.