881.00/2061: Telegram
The Chargé at Tangier ( Childs ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:30 p.m.]
372. Following the appointment of Colonel Uriarte as delegate of the Spanish High Commissioner in Tangier I have received a communication from him reading in translation as follows:
“I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that when His Excellency the High Commissioner appointed me as his Delegate in the Tangier Zone, it was decided that my official relations with Your Excellency in respect of all such matters as appertain to the interests of the country which you so worthily represent, shall be conducted through the medium of the Consulate General of Spain in this city, which has received appropriate instructions in this sense.
I have to importune Your Excellency that under this arrangement you may be assured, on my part, of the fullest understanding and assistance for the effective maintenance of the commercial regime enjoyed by this zone in recent years.
I avail myself of this occasion to reiterate to Your Excellency, Mr. Consul General, the assurance of my distinguished consideration.”
It appears that all of my consular colleagues so far as can be determined have received a similar communication. There is some thought that the new arrangement may represent a desire of the Spanish authorities in the midst of their difficulties to effect a back door and informal return to the committee of control system. However, the most general opinion is that it represents an effort of the Spanish Consul to project himself more importantly into the local picture from the obscure background to which he was relegated upon the occupation of Tangier by the Spanish authorities. Colonel Uriarte has himself told me that the Spanish Consul would serve as his Diplomatic Cabinet so to speak.
The British Consul General is merely acknowledging the communication. He has expressed dislike of the arrangement as it interposes obstacles in the way of direct access by him to the principal Spanish authorities in Tangier.
For us the situation is of course different in view of our position. The proposal actually represents a return to the modus vivendi which obtained until 1934 (see the Department’s instruction 780 of February 16, 193438); it is not believed however in view of our particular position that an ordinary acknowledgment would be appropriate. The following is suggested as an acknowledgment which I might be authorized to make.
“I have to thank you for your kind communication of November 21, 1941, from which I note that our relations in regard to official matters [Page 576] concerning American interests are to be conducted through the Consulate General of Spain in Tangier, which has received instructions to this effect from His Excellency, General Orgaz.
This is an arrangement which is very agreeable to the Legation in as much as it resumes a modus vivendi under which relations were formerly conducted by the Legation with the Spanish authorities in Morocco.
I am particularly gratified to note that it is your intention to maintain the commercial regime enjoyed by the Tangier Zone during recent years. This regime in Tangier would, of course, in our view necessarily be that which is denned in the treaties to which the United States Government is a party.
Please be assured, my Dear Colonel Uriarte, that on my part you will find reciprocally all possible friendly cooperation in my informal endeavors to adjust the problems which may confront us in the exceptional circumstances of these times.”
Repeated to Madrid.
- Not printed.↩