740.0011 European War 1939/7731: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 20—1:05 a.m.]
50. Department’s No. 16, January 8, 6 p.m. The absence from Madrid of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and his subsequent illness have as yet prevented me from bringing to his attention the contents of the telegram referred to, but I am hopeful of seeing him in the next few days.
However, this morning the British Ambassador4a asked me if I would not postpone for a few days speaking to the Foreign Minister on the subject of Tangier.
In explanation of this request the Ambassador said that he had received written guarantees “better than he expected” concerning the fortification of the port named but that due, as he believes, to poor administrative practice he still awaits formal assurances covering capitulations and fears that action on my part at this time might be construed and resented as “pressure” which might delay formal fulfillment by the Spanish Government of its verbal promises. The Ambassador said he would at once communicate with Washington through London with a view to fully informing the Department on this point.
In a personal message just received the Ambassador asks me to make clear to the Department that his suggestion is not due to any weakening on their side but rather to his conviction that there is a good chance of securing a reasonable modus vivendi that will assure a due respect for international interests and non-fortification of the zone. He adds that any agreement made will be provisional and all juridical rights will be safeguarded.
In all the circumstances I perceive no objection to the course suggested and shall accordingly defer action.
- Sir Samuel Hoare.↩