852.24/225: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France
B–455. The Executive Committee of the American Red Cross, moved by the indications of suffering on the part of the civilian population, especially women and children, in Spain has authorized an appropriation to finance the shipment to Spain of flour to be milled from Government wheat, up to a maximum of 250,000 bushels, under a plan which provides for the cooperation of the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation, United States Maritime Commission, American Friends Service Committee, and the American Red Cross. It is the desire of the American Red Cross to extend the benefits of this plan to distressed civilians, especially women and children, in proportion to their need wherever they may be in Spain, without regard to factions in the current hostilities. Please ascertain from General Franco’s authorities whether this offer would be acceptable and whether they would be willing to cooperate with the American Friends Service Committee in the transshipment of the flour from France and in its distribution.
For your guidance, all reports reaching us from official sources as well as from the Friends Committee indicate that the food shortage and destitution among civilians, notably women and children, is very much greater in Loyalist than in Franco Spain. No fixed proportion as to percentage of relief to be distributed on the two sides is being worked out in advance; this will be determined by the Red Cross solely in relation to the extent of the needs as they become apparent and without regard to political considerations.
Please telegraph reply.
For your information we are making a similar inquiry with regard to Loyalist Spain through Ambassador de los Rios, with whom we have been discussing the problem informally for some time.