852.20/203: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain ( Hayes ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 23—11:14 a.m.]
3080. I told the Foreign Minister today that I had received many reports of impending withdrawal of the Blue Division. As I had already pointed out, it seemed to me important not only that it should be withdrawn but that Spain should get credit in the press of Allied and neutral countries for withdrawing it on its own initiative. I asked if he contemplated making public announcement which could be communicated abroad. He said arrangements for withdrawal [Page 626] were not completed. Withdrawal will take place on October 25 and thereafter no Spanish soldiers will be left on eastern front. Division will be repatriated to Spain in groups during ensuing month. Meanwhile it would be brought to Koenigsburg, and of course no further reinforcements would be sent. He doubted it was prudent now to give official publicity to withdrawal since Spain had had great trouble with the Germans in arranging for withdrawal. However, it was finally arranged, and he could communicate this to me officially in confidence. Everybody in Spain knew of the withdrawal and he suspected it was known outside, but if publicity were given to it now it would be said that withdrawal was due to representations made by British Ambassador when, as a manner [matter] of fact, his representations had had nothing to do with withdrawal. He again referred to the unfortunate publicity already given to the matter, especially in the British press. My 2895 October 7, midnight.41
I reminded him that stories now circulating in Spain will doubtless creep into the press abroad and that it might be better to issue an official statement which was clear and to the point than to allow the withdrawal to be tied up with stories now circulating in United States and Britain. He said he would like to think it over, and would let me know later.
I then referred to the larger subject of Spanish-Russian relations. I said my Government understood Spanish Government’s natural repugnance for communism but could not understand why Spanish Government associated communism exclusively with Russia, and I hoped neither he nor Franco gathered from anything that I had said that we felt complacent about Spain’s general attitude toward Russia. Russia was our Ally and helping greatly. We and our Allies and also neutral nations had to live with Russia after the war as we had to live with each other. I had been giving serious thought to the subject and had written down my thoughts. I then handed him a personal letter in Spanish which I am transmitting by despatch.42 I said I considered it very important and hoped he would consider it important enough to show to Franco.
He read a large portion of the letter with evident interest. He said it was an important matter and he would like to study it and discuss it with Franco. He would speak to me about it in a week or 10 days.
He then asked me if I had shown the letter to any of my colleagues and if any publicity would be given to it. I replied no.