881.00/1794: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State

4035. Your 3736, December 10, 3 p.m. Hansard text only available this morning. Mr. Butler’s statement about Tangier was in reply to a question as to the present position at Tangier; whether the area is now a Spanish protectorate; and whether the Italian submarines are still in the harbor and Italian sailors free to move about. Mr. Butler said: “On 1st December a law was published in Madrid establishing a new juridical regime for the Tangier Zone under which the laws which apply to the Spanish Protectorate of Morocco will also have force in the Tangier Zone. One of the articles of this law provides that in consideration of the special circumstances obtaining in the zone, such measures as may be considered indispensable together with special and suitable regulations will be framed with temporary or indefinite application to this zone. The precise effect of the document is not yet clear. His Majesty’s Ambassador in Madrid has been informed by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs that Spain will guarantee peace and will secure the economic rights of all foreigners in the Tangier Zone. In accordance with the instructions he had already received, His Majesty’s Ambassador left the Spanish Government in no doubt regarding the attitude of His Majesty’s Government to further unilateral Spanish action in the zone, and fully reserved His Majesty’s Government’s position.

The two damaged Italian submarines are still in Tangier. On 29th November His Majesty’s Ambassador renewed his inquiries of the Spanish Government as to the length of time they would be allowed for repairs. His Majesty’s Government have been promised an immediate reply. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.”

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In reply to a supplementary question as to whether in view of the guarantee of peace he could say anything about the attack on the British Legation reported by the B. B. C. December 7, Mr. Butler replied: “I think that report is a great exaggeration. I regret to say that a party of Italians did attack the British Post Office, for the purpose of taking down certain publicity notices, but I can inform the House that His Majesty’s Consul-General has already protested to the Governor of the zone who has promised to take every precaution against any recurrence of such an incident. These British premises are now being guarded by the administration authorities and the publicity notices in question have been replaced.”

A further supplementary question asked what precisely Mr. Butler meant by further unilateral action against which the British Government would protest and whether steps were being taken to insist that no permanent fortifications should be erected. Mr. Butler replied: “The answer to the first part of that question is that we regard the law of 1st December as a further example of unilateral action. With regard to the latter part of the question, I have already informed the Honorable Member that since the original Spanish occupation of the zone there has been a reinforcement of the Spanish forces and to that extent the position is not satisfactory. I cannot go further.”

To additional supplementary question as to whether British authorities in Tangier have endeavored to make independent inquiries to ascertain to what extent submarines were damaged and how long they ought to be allowed to stay Mr. Butler replied: “We have done our best to procure the information which I know the House would desire to have. I am satisfied that the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs is fully aware of the importance which we attach to this matter and I hope that he will shortly give us a favourable reply about these two submarines.”

Johnson