740.0011 European War 1939/10142: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain ( Weddell ) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 20—3:20 p.m.]
337. Department’s 184, April 10, 6 p.m.; my telegram No. 162, March 1, 1 p.m. I today called on the Foreign Minister by appointment. He had just returned from a conference with Franco and seemed depressed and irritable. I first remarked smilingly that it was inconceivable to me that Spain had renounced its sovereignty as would seem to be indicated by two air mail envelopes addressed to Americans which I handed him, each bearing a German censor’s stamp. While showing no surprise he said that he knew nothing of the matter and asked for one of the envelopes, promising to have an investigation made.
I then said that the real object of my visit, which was by order of my Government, was to make clear to him the general attitude of the American Government and people in the present struggle against the forces of aggression. I here repeated to him the essential portions of the Department’s telegram under acknowledgment. I added that we thought general attitude was more extensively set forth in the President’s speech of March 15, a copy of which I handed him. He received this as well as my remarks in silence.
[Page 889]I then told the Minister that the increasingly violent editorial and news tone of the local press in the past few days could hardly have escaped his notice; that their attacks were against both my own country and Great Britain. He interrupted me to say that with regard to this latter, that if this were so it was doubtless provoked by matter coming out by radio by London which was offensive to Spain and in which the British seemed inclined to treat Spain “like a colony”.
When the Minister ended, I said that my 2 years’ residence in Spain had rather accustomed and hardened me to the appearance in the Spanish press of disagreeable matter concerning my country, although I had learned with regret from his recent speech at the German press exposition here that he accepted full responsibility for this press over several years. I added that, however, I had drawn a measure of comfort in the past from the remark of a former member of the Spanish Cabinet that the Spanish press represented neither the opinion of the Government nor public opinion. He bridled at this and inquired the name of this ex-Minister. “Your predecessor”12 I answered, a reply which was followed by a glacial silence. I said further that a careful reading of these recent editorials and news stories rather gave me the feeling that they had been originally drafted in some foreign language, perhaps German. He seemed to wince at this and said that Spain contained many persons capable of writing editorials and that my suggestion was a disagreeable one. I replied that this inference must have sprung from my limited knowledge of Spanish; and that after all it was merely an impression. I said, however, that he was doubtless familiar with the activities of Lazar and Company (by this I meant the German Embassy Press Bureau here and its chief) and that a Spanish friend had sent me from time to time the text of numerous articles attacking the United States which he informed me had been sent to newspapers here by the bureau named. In one case the transmitting letter was a command to publish from Lazar; I continued remarking that I had no proof of the authenticity of these articles but that the matter [would?] without doubt be of interest to him. It appeared not to be!
Returning to the charge I remarked that the tone of recent editorial and news pages of Spanish papers seemed to point to a preparing of public opinion for something and that wild rumors were going around of important impending changes in his Government’s policy. He asked what these were. I said that they were to the effect that Spain would shortly sign the Tripartite Pact13 and that he himself was soon to leave for the frontier to meet the German Foreign Minister.13a The Minister replied that he too had heard these stories, that he was unable [Page 890] to gauge the motive inspiring them but that the present situation with regard to Spain was exactly as it was at the time of my interview when I accompanied Colonel Donovan reported in my telegram under reference.
I then told him that my pointed inquiries were due to American Government’s interests in Spain and in the general situation, and that I would, of course, be glad to transmit any comments he might make. He again replied “the situation is unchanged.”
Following this I referred to the fact that some day peace would come to the world and that it would be interesting to see in what direction countries represented at the peace table or interested in its results would turn to secure the necessary help for their general rehabilitation. This seemed to fall on deaf ears and elicited no comment.
During the interview, a telegram was brought to the Minister which he said reported the surrender of the Greek Army. I said that if it were from the S. E. T., I would wish to have it verified. He answered that it was from his Minister in Athens. This I countered by observing that as he had remarked to Colonel Donovan and to me at the time of our interview, such apparent successes only affected prestige and that were conditions reversed the final result would not be altered. To this he offered no comment.