740.0011 European War 1939/21960: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Hayes) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 2—11:35 a.m.]
631. General Franco in an address to women Falangists on May 29 severely criticized both the Monarchy and the Republic and praised the régime of Primo de Rivera44 while also criticizing it for not fulfilling Spain’s political needs. He was inferentially praising his own administration which corresponds in a sense to the Primo de Rivera dictatorship with the addition of Falange which it is apparent Franco believes fills the need which Primo de Rivera left unfilled.
He compared his own régime with that of Isabella and after recalling her expulsion of the Jews45 referred to her racial totalitarian policy. He ended the speech by referring to Isabella’s three commandments, love for the peoples of America, integrity of Fatherland and vital space for our Spain which according to General Franco if previous generations have forgotten them it belongs to present generation to carry out.
[Page 289]The references to Spain’s racial policy and to totalitarianism and particularly reference to vital space is of special interest in connection with reports that German pressure is being or will be exerted on Spain to enlarge its North African territory at expense of France. It is believed very doubtful that in the presence of declining prospects of German victory Spain would accede to this pressure to extent of attacking the French in North Africa (although it is believed also that the one thing in which army and Falange are in agreement is desirability of eventual recovery of Moroccan territory now held by France) but it is possible that Franco’s statements were made in accordance with German desires that Spain should put pressure on France corresponding to reported pressure in form of territorial demands being exerted by Italy doubtless with German approval since it appears obvious that any specific effort by Spain to obtain “vital space” would be made in North Africa.
I have discussed Franco’s speech and rumors of German pressure on Spain to take French North African territory with a friendly high official of the Foreign Office who is convinced that Franco’s speech like so many similar ones made by him and Serrano Suñer will not be translated into action.
He said there is increasing evidence of Spanish Government’s determination to remain out of the war. He says Foreign Office has recently prepared and submitted to Franco two highly significant reports, one outlining Germany’s exorbitant demands for compensation from Spain for military help during the Civil War. He said Franco had expressed surprise and great displeasure at extent to which Germany is endeavoring to cash in on the military help which it said at the time it was giving as a “political contribution”.
The second report deals with information which the Foreign Office considers authentic that German morale is fast approaching the breaking point and that the German people have practically lost hope of victory. The same report expresses the opinion that 90 percent of the German people are anti-Nazi.
In addition to foregoing same official Confirmed that Foreign Office has refused Germany’s request to appoint a German Military Attaché in Tangier. He said the Government was much more concerned with German infiltration in Spanish Morocco than with any plan which might be suggested for Spain to take aggressive action against French North African territory. He said in addition that the Spanish Army because of its size, its poor equipment and its shortage of such essential war materials as gasoline and so forth was in no position to take aggressive action in any part of the world.
My own opinion coincides with that of my informant.
Repeated to Tangier.