852.00/9065a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Bullitt)
196. From the Under Secretary. The Spanish Ambassador here informed me very confidentially yesterday that Besteiro had sent an emissary to Paris 2 days ago and that the latter had communicated with the Ambassador here by telephone. This emissary told the Ambassador that negotiations were now in progress between the Madrid regime and the Franco government and that Besteiro was confident that a peaceful solution would be found. He further stated that the Madrid regime was asking for a month’s delay before capitulation took place in order that the Loyalist forces might be peacefully disbanded and in order that certain individuals in Loyalist territory might be afforded an opportunity of escaping before capitulation took place. According to this emissary the feeling was growing rapidly in Franco territory that a peaceful solution should be found and that Italian or German contingents should not be permitted to have a triumphant entry into Madrid.
Any information you can send me in connection with these negotiations would be helpful. Please do not disclose the source of my information. [Welles.]