852.00/9701: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain ( Weddell ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:25 p.m.]
650. Last evening at the customary annual assembly in commemoration of the outbreak of the revolution of 1936 Franco addressed the National Council of the Falange in the presence of the members of the Government and the Diplomatic Corps in extraordinarily violent terms emphasizing even more strongly than heretofore his contempt for the “plutocratic democracies”, his conviction that Germany has already won the war, and that the intervention of the United States can lead only to a useless prolongation of the conflict.
The Caudillo’s characterization of the motives of the democracies in offering economic assistance to Spain was particularly interesting. After praising the efforts of his Government to overcome the economic difficulties of the country he declared that “the Council should know how others have attempted to hinder the provisionment of our fatherland. In the moments of greatest crisis of the past year when bread was short in our territory and the inevitable delays of the long journey [Page 909] from South America caused a shortage of grain, it was attempted to bring from North America 100,000 tons already purchased and ready for embarkation but the efforts of our representatives were shattered by the dispositions of that nation which prohibited this and the grain remained upon the wharves of the friendly country. And when there seemed to be offered to Spain prospect of aid and economic collaboration in its reconstruction, behind the generous appearance of the credit operation always appeared an attempt at political mediatization incompatible with our sovereignty and with our dignity as a free people. [”]
[“]I would speak to you” he continued “with this crudity because the time has come to take steps against these snares, pretexts, and maneuvers and for every one to realize that nations must save themselves by their own effort and their own work and sacrifice. It is allusory [illusory] to believe that the plutocracies will make use of their gold for generous or noble enterprises. Gold ends by debasing nations as well as individuals. The exchange of 50 old destroyers for various remnants of an empire is eloquent in this regard.”
Concerning the outcome of the European conflict the Caudillo declared that he had no doubt. “The die is already cast” he said. “The first battles were fought and won in our own fields. In the various regions of Europe the battles decisive for our Continent have taken place and the terrible nightmare of our generation, the destruction of Russian Communism, is now inevitable.”
The Caudillo followed this assertion by an attack on those nations who wish to extend the conflict, and addressed especially to the nations of South America a declaration that Europe had no ambitions in America and that the intervention of the Western Hemisphere could lead only to an interminable and mutually destructive conflict.
“No human force exists which is capable of diverting this destiny. But we should none the less not dismiss from our minds the possibility that the madness which directs the policy of other countries may attempt to thrust new miseries upon Europe. Against this we must prepare ourselves, offering to the world the serene example of a united people disposed to defend its independence and its right.
No one is more authorized than ourselves to say that Europe has no ambitions in America. A contest between the two continents is an impossible thing. It would mean only a long war at sea without results; fabulous business for a few and unsuspected miseries for many; prodigious losses of ships and goods; a war of submarines and high speed vessels striking blows at the hitherto peaceful commerce of the world.
Coasts confronting one another strong and unapproachable by the enemy; a sea divided into zones of influence European and American [Page 910] from which the vessels of world commerce are barred …28 The American Continent cannot dream of intervention in Europe without exposing itself to catastrophe nor can it say without prejudice to the truth that the American coasts are in danger from the attacks of European powers.
Thus neither the liberty of the seas, monstrous sarcasm for the [apparent omission] who suffer the consequences of the war nor international law outraged by the inhuman blockade of a continent nor the defense of invaded peoples who are dragged into hunger and misery are now more than a grandiose farce in which nobody believes.
In this situation, to say that the course of the war can be changed by the entry into action of a third country is criminal madness, is to kindle a world war without horizon which may last years and which would definitely ruin the nations whose eclipse of life is based on their legitimate commerce with the countries of Europe.
These are facts which nobody can dispute. The blockade of Europe is contributing to the building up of an autarchy prejudicial to South America. The continuance of the war will complete the work.
The war was badly planned and the Allies have lost it. So all the peoples of continental Europe including even France have recognized; the solution of their differences confided to the fate of arms and the outcome has been adverse. They expect nothing from their own efforts, the very government[s] themselves declare this clearly and definitely. What is proposed is a new war between the continents which by prolonging their agony will give them an appearance of life and in the face of this we who love America feel the anxiety of the moment and pray that the evil of which we have a foreboding may not reach them.”
- Omission indicated in the original telegram.↩