740.00112 European War 1939/6383: Telegram
The Chargé at Tangier (Childs) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 17—1:47 p.m.]
339. Department’s 148, August 4 [14].50 I have no special reason for believing such discussion would be advisable. On the other hand I am aware of no objections to acquainting the Embassy with the background of the negotiations.
I met my Spanish colleague Saturday night and asked if he had any information on the accord. He stated the authorities in Madrid who were concerned with the economy of Spanish Morocco were not in favor of the accord and thought Spanish Morocco should meet its economic problems in cooperation with French Morocco. He thought that to overcome this opposition Orgaz would be obliged to intercede by a personal visit to Madrid. I asked if Orgaz was planning such a visit. He said he thought Orgaz might go at the end of this month.
I stressed to him the difficulties which had had to be overcome before agreement had been reached authorizing the negotiations. It was added that it seemed preferable to treat Spanish North Africa separately from the peninsula as it would relieve us of the constant necessity of referring questions concerning the accord to the Embassy in Madrid which would ensue if the peninsula accord embraced Spanish North Africa.
Repeated to Madrid.