852.48/825: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 27—3 a.m.]
744. My 733, December 18, 10 p.m., and 737, December 20, 8 p.m.36 The British Ambassador told me today that he was endeavoring to arrange an early interview between representatives of his Embassy and the Spanish Foreign Office in order to submit to the latter the draft of an agreement relative to the protection of British interests in Tangier. [Page 804] He said that in the draft his Government was asking nothing unreasonable nor asking the Spanish Government to retrace its steps but only sought therein assurances concerning the interests named. These he added involved approximately 1700 British subjects some of them influential together with vested interests totaling £8,000,000.
(An Attaché of the Embassy had previously told me that essential demands would embrace: (1) adequate compensation to British employees in the Zone Government let out as a result of the recent Spanish action; (2) re-establishment of the British consular court; (3) arrangements under which British subjects could freely dispose of their Tangier properties; (4) a satisfactory adjustment of the new complicated currency; (5) Tangier not to be fortified).
The Ambassador then remarked that if suggested assurances were not given it would be necessary to negotiate further and that in this event it might be 3 weeks before his Government could make an announcement concerning credits for wheat to Spain. I expressed concern at this and pointed out that my own uneasiness over each day’s delay arose from my [apprehension?] that under pressure of famine or otherwise this Government might embark on some unpredictable foolish adventure harmful to the general cause. The Ambassador’s comment was that he was “equally nervous” and that if the anticipated meeting between his representatives and those of the Spanish Foreign Office did not indicate an early solution he meditated a telegram to his Government to urge on the Department of State immediate announcement of our intention to send shipments of wheat or flour to Spain,37 not waiting on the announcement of British action.
- For the latter, see vol. ii, p. 850.↩
- For correspondence on this subject, see vol. ii, pp. 803 ff.↩