740.0011 European War 1939/25177: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Winant ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 30—5:17 p.m.]
6069. We took up immediately with Cadogan82 in Eden’s absence the matter of the report of the official assurances which the British Consul General at Tangier desires to have given to Orgaz (Department’s telegram No. 5381, October 29, 11 a.m.). Cadogan said that there must be some misunderstanding since Gascoigne had been given explicit instructions that he should not encourage Spanish aspirations with respect to French Morocco. He said that point 2 definitely did not represent the views of the British Government and that further instructions to correct the impression would be sent immediately to Gascoigne.
Sir Alexander said that the view of the British Government is that the question of Spanish aspirations for territorial acquisition at the expense of French Morocco is a matter to be settled between France and Spain at an appropriate time. Meanwhile he said the British Government has no intention of compromising the position of either party.
- Sir Alexander Cadogan, British Permanent Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩