Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The British Commonwealth; The Near East and Africa, Volume III

881.822/199: Telegram

The Chargé at Tangier (Childs) to the Secretary of State

Tangier, July 3, 1941—noon.
[Received 2:55 p.m.]

238. My 237.⁴⁹ The following communication has been made today to Colonel Luis Carvajal, Tangier.

“Sir:

I have received your letter of July 2, 1941, and enclosure with reference to the intention of the Spanish authorities to take possession, on July 5, 1941, of Cape Spartel Lighthouse which is now administered by an international commission under the terms of the Convention as to Cape Spartel Lighthouse of May 31, 1865⁵⁰ to which my Government as well as the Spanish Government are parties.

I have of course communicated the terms of your communication to the Department of State at Washington which will no doubt have a communication to make on the subject to the Spanish Government.

In the meanwhile, however, I must protest in the strongest possible terms against this unilateral decision of the Spanish authorities, which is in flagrant violation of the treaty engagements of the Spanish Government.

I am, sir, very truly yours,

Signed J. Rives Childs, American Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.”

Repeated to Embassy at Madrid.

Childs

49. Supra.
50. William M. Malloy (ed.), Treaties, Conventions, etc., Between the United States of America and Other Powers, 1776–1909 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1910), vol. i, p. 1217.