740.0011 European War 1939/21217: Telegram
The Chargé in Spain (Beaulac) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 25—9:52 a.m.]
432. I Asked Suñer today whether his statement published April 21 meant that Spain had placed herself on Germany’s side in the [Page 287] present war. He said the statement merely meant that Spain was reaffirming its opposition to communism. He said the reference to possible Spanish help to Germany was purely theoretical because Spain believed that Germany would defeat the Russian Armies.
I asked whether his reference to France’s possible contribution to the war meant that Spain was trying to push France into active military collaboration with Germany. He said it meant that Spain hoped that France would recognize the communistic menace and help to overcome it.
He said that aside from this, recent developments in France were of no interest to Spain. I asked him whether he considered them unfavorable from the Spanish point of view and he said he would rather not comment.
He was extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed during the interview and failed completely to show the aggressiveness which characterized his statement referred to. He gave the impression of speaking entirely without conviction. See my 429, 5 [6] p.m.43
Repeated to Vichy and Tangier.
- Not printed.↩