340.1115A/957: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 21—2:40 p.m.]
224. Spanish authorities agree to admit American refugees at French frontier with or without Spanish visas provided their exit from Spain is assured. Legation at Lisbon states that Portuguese authorities are [not] willing to give transit visas to such refugees to enter Portugal unless or until there is an American vessel in Lisbon which can take them off.
In view of the fact that the radio reports indicate that France is being bombed up to the Spanish frontier and since there are believed to be a considerable number of Americans in and around the area Biarritz, Hendaye, Saint Jean de Luz, et cetera, I have suggested that the Legation request the Admiral99 to send immediately a large naval vessel to Bilbao to take off such Americans as arrive at that port whereupon we would be in a position to insist that the Spanish authorities admit American refugees in transit for Bilbao and could see to it that any Americans entering proceed direct to that port.
I urgently request that this matter be taken up with the Navy Department in Washington and that a vessel be sent at once.
- Presumably Rear Admiral David M. LeBreton, in command of Navy Squadron Forty-T, operating in southwestern European waters, based at Lisbon.↩