740.00112 European War 1939/5814½
The First Secretary of the British Embassy
(Wyndham
White) to the Chief of the
Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Alling)
(W. T. 109/43/42)
Washington, June 19,
1942.
My Dear Alling: In view of our conversation
yesterday evening38 about the proposed
economic negotiation with General Orgaz, you will be interested in the
attached paraphrases of two telegrams we have had on this subject, one
from the Foreign Office and one from the British Embassy in Madrid.39
Yours sincerely,
[Enclosure]
Paraphrase of a Telegram From
the British Foreign Office to the British Ambassador
in the United States (Halifax)
The case against an attempt to reach a separate agreement with
Spanish Morocco is stated in earlier telegrams from Madrid on this
subject (see Mr. Wyndham White’s letter to Mr. Villard of June 2nd).
The following points should also be emphasized:—
The Central Government maintains complete control of all economic and
political matters affecting the territory. For example, no export
licences could be granted by the local authorities without reference
to Madrid. Furthermore, if the High Commissioner were to give any
political undertaking contrary to the policy of the Central
Government, he would be immediately dismissed. Finally, it must not
be overlooked that the United Kingdom already takes the whole iron
ore output of the Riff mines which constitute the only substantial
export of Spanish Morocco. Any proposals, therefore, for a separate
agreement between the United States and Spanish Morocco would have
to be carefully considered in order to avoid the danger of
interrupting this export to which we attach the greatest
importance.
The United States Government should also know that we have recently
received reports of closer military co-operation in the Spanish Zone
between the Spanish and Axis military authorities with the full
knowledge of General Orgaz. These reports do not suggest that any
immediate action is imminent, but they do suggest that it would be
unwise to assume that General Orgaz would necessarily take the right
decision should a crisis occur.
If the United States Government decide, nevertheless, to proceed with
this proposal, the British Government hope that in view of the
[Page 469]
close cooperation which is
developing between the two Governments with regard to the Peninsular
economic policy they could be kept informed and given an opportunity
to comment on the details of the proposed plan.
