Office of the Historian

740.00112 European War 1939/6424: Telegram

The Ambassador in Spam (Hayes) to the Secretary of State

Madrid, August 20, 1942—10 p.m.
[Received August 21—2:58 p.m.]

1149. My 1116, August 17, 2 p.m. I am concerned over the language of the last paragraph of Childs’ aide-mémoire of July 31 transmitted in his despatch 937, August [1],51 in which it is stated in writing that our Government’s willingness to enter into such an agreement proceeds solely from the belief that he, General Orgaz will not permit any change in the neutral status of Spanish North Africa and Tangier, et cetera, and over the effect it may have on General Orgaz’s position within the Government. I am apprehensive likewise that it may have an unfavorable effect on the delicate negotiations in progress affecting our whole economic program with Spain52 especially when the German trade commission is here and German economic pressure is being applied to Spain.

While the Presidency of the Government has informed the Foreign Office that it has approved the petroleum memorandum (enclosure 2 despatch 937) it has not revealed to the Foreign Office any knowledge of the aide-mémoire (enclosure 3 same despatch).

I request authorization to inform appropriate authorities in my discretion that the negotiations with General Orgaz have been conducted on the understanding that he is keeping the Government in Madrid informed of negotiations and that the commitments entered into have the Government’s approval. I should like to be able to do this if the need should arise, in order to overcome possible suspicion that we are seeking to detach Morocco from Spain for political and military purposes, and to set General Orgaz against his superiors in Madrid. Recent conversations with Spanish officials concerning supply of petroleum to Spanish North Africa appear to confirm the impression that Spanish Government is very touchy about its “rights” in Morocco and is anxious to maintain indivisible control there.

Repeated to Tangier.

Hayes
  1. Not printed, but see telegram No. 321, July 31, 9 p.m., from the Chargé at Tangier, p. 474.↩
  2. See vol. iii, pp. 248 ff.↩