852.48/437: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Spain ( Matthews )
3. Your 32, April 26, 3 p.m. For your information wheat sent to Spain by American Red Cross has been purchased from the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation and has not been contributed outright by this Government. We are now informed by the Red Cross that the American Friends Service Committee contemplates acquiring in similar manner approximately 300,000 bushels of wheat for shipment to Spain. Red Cross understands that Friends Committee has sufficient funds to purchase wheat but before completing transaction requires additional funds to cover cost of transportation. For this purpose Friends Committee has apparently approached American firms having business interests in Spain for contributions.
We appreciate the motives behind your suggestion and trust that you may be able to make use of this information advantageously in your conversations with the Spanish authorities. In view of all the circumstances we do not, however, feel that any public statement by us would be desirable.