852.48/797: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
Madrid, December 3, 1940—1 p.m.
[Received 6:30 p.m.]
[Received 6:30 p.m.]
698. My 697, December 3, 11 a.m. In the hope and on the assumption that the private and personal assurances of the Chief of State and the formal declarations of the Minister for Foreign Affairs are satisfactory, I venture to submit the following observations and suggestions for the Department’s consideration:
- (1)
- As has been emphasized, the general economic and especially the food situation in Spain is critical, with a worsening tendency. Therefore the necessity for prompt action becomes more and more pressing.
- (2)
- For the distribution of wheat or flour here it will probably become necessary to have office space for the Red Cross representatives. It is physically impossible to provide this space in the Embassy, but it is thought that space can be easily obtained at a moderate price in the immediate neighborhood, perhaps across the street. Will the Department please instruct.
- (3)
- Confidentially, while the Spanish Red Cross is of high standing it is believed that the Spanish Government will favor and prefer collaboration between our representatives and its Auxilio Social which latter is represented in practically every village and town in the country.
- (4)
- Early publication of the press release concerning the Red Cross wheat of which the text was proposed by the Department and agreed to by the Spanish Government should help to curb growing discontent springing from hunger. Telegraphic instructions indicating the Department’s desires as to the date and hour of release are therefore requested.
- (5)
- Equally helpful in the above sense would be the announcement that negotiations between the two Governments for credits were soon to begin.
- (6)
- The present Spanish Government has conducted all commercial agreements negotiations in Madrid. To avoid misunderstandings and delays I should be grateful to receive the Department’s views as to where these negotiations are to take place so that I can inform the Minister for Foreign Affairs and in the event the Department desires that they be conducted in Washington to urge the immediate nomination of the Spanish negotiators. On the other hand if they are to be conducted in Madrid it is suggested that I be informed whether it is the intention of the Department to send experts and additional clerical staff to collaborate with the Embassy.
Weddell