852.00/9002
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Spanish Ambassador called on his own request. He proceeded to say that he saw in the newspapers or in press reports that President Azana of Spain had left the country and in effect had ceased to be President. He then said he would like to inquire what would be the attitude of this Government towards the Spanish Government as presided over by Prime Minister Negrin. I inquired whether he knew positively that President Azana had left the Government or whether he had just read about it in the press reports.44 He said that the letter was all the information he had. I was in the act of indicating that this Government would take notice of the governmental situation left by the departure of President Azana, when the Spanish Ambassador was notified that there was an urgent call for him over the telephone from the Spanish Embassy here in Washington. The Ambassador returned from the telephone later with a penciled memorandum of the purported conversation. He proceeded to say to me that the substance of the message was that he should inquire of this Government as to the interest it might be disposed to take in giving its moral influence against reprisals by General Franco, and he urged the importance and desire of his Government that this Government thus manifest its earnest and strong moral influence. I replied that this Government is not unmindful of this phase and that already it has been giving attention to it.
As we walked to the door the Ambassador said the first stage of the Spanish situation is virtually over but that now the second and most serious stage was just ahead. He referred to the international claims and counterclaims relating to Spain, especially those of Italy and Germany. I inquired as to what, in his opinion, Italy and Germany would demand of Spain. He did not undertake to say, except to indicate that it would be enough, and then he added that General Franco would insist on some rights or jurisdiction in the Gibraltar area and also that of Tangier, and some other unpronounceable place that I never could understand.
- The Department was informed by Ambassador Bowers in his telegram No. 587, February 28, 5 p.m., that Azana’s resignation had been made public at 1 o’clock (852.001 Azana/25).↩