852.01/855: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Hayes) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:07 p.m.]
2329. During my conversation with Jordana Thursday24 I showed him a letter I had just received from the President, dated August 14,25 saying that it was impossible to avoid the assumption that the Spanish Government sanctions and directs the unneutral behavior of the Falange Party and the Spanish press.
Jordana expressed understanding of the President’s attitude. He hoped he himself would not be held responsible for grievous mistakes of his predecessors in office. He regretted them and had made up his mind to rectify them. It was not merely because we were now winning victories. He had adopted and pursued this policy prior to our North African landing (this is true). It had been uphill work. However, Franco had been convinced that other agencies of the Spanish Government should be brought in line with Foreign Office and had recently given orders accordingly, at the same time charging Jordana with watching situation and reporting any infractions of his orders. It would still take time to bring all the press into line. Meanwhile Axis was protesting vigorously against attitude of press. He hoped I would assure the President Spain moving quickly and that he expects shortly that all grounds for complaint will be removed.
I said I was glad to have this from him. I recognized there had been improvement but press had not achieved perfect neutrality. I said I would not be content until Axis had protested as long and with as little success as I had and reminded him that all I insisted upon was neutrality while Axis protesting lack of partiality. If Spanish Government could resist my protests for a year it could easily resist Axis protests.