881.00/1805: Telegram
The Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Tangier (White) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 18—1:30 p.m.]
89. With reference to my telegrams 86, December 16, 7 p.m., and 88, December 18, 11 a.m., and with the same reservations as to secrecy, last night’s instructions from London to Madrid were, to continue to press for concrete written assurance as regards British interests in Tangier. I understand that the Spanish Government’s assurance should cover the points mentioned in my 83, December 13, 9 a.m. except that the demand for compensation of British officials dismissed from local government is to be insisted upon but not for their reinstatement.
Very significant was directive to the effect that events in Tangier are not of sufficient intrinsic importance to change Great Britain’s Spanish policy but that they are of value as an indication of Spain’s policy.
While the British Foreign Office authorized the Embassy at Madrid to draft a statement of assurances for the signature of the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, it refused to do this work itself on the ground that it did not possess the necessary information.