852.6363/730: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Hayes) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 19—5:41 p.m.]
651. The Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs,11 who is the person responsible for the important military cooperation reported separately to you, called on me personally, this morning, at the request of the Minister,12 to urge that aviation gasoline for the civil airlines in Spain be made available promptly.
All civil aviation services will be suspended as of March 22. Two lines have already been suspended.
Meanwhile, General Vigón, Minister of Air, has called on General Jordana and asked his personal assistance in obtaining aviation gasoline for the airlines. General Vigón is one of Franco’s13 closest advisors. He was formerly pro-German, but I have excellent evidence that he now fully supports Franco’s policy of keeping Spain out of the war and of resisting aggression from any side. Furthermore, he has been outstanding in giving excellent treatment to American aviators forced down in Spanish territory and escaping from France and he has arranged for their prompt release. He, of course, also issued the orders which made possible the important military cooperation referred to above.
The Under Secretary of State, who has proved himself to be a staunch and capable friend of ours, and is in no small measure responsible for the favorable trend of Spanish foreign policy, urged most seriously that we make available the modest quantities of aviation gasoline needed for the operation of the civil airlines.
[Page 672]He recalled that Franco’s efforts to achieve real neutrality, which have the support of the vast majority of Spaniards, but which are displeasing to the Germans and to a minority in Spain still committed to a pro-Axis policy, will be greatly [apparent omission] is able to demonstrate that we have so little confidence in Spain’s international attitude that we are unwilling to make available even modest sums of aviation fuel for the maintenance of minimum service on Spanish airlines.
He pointed out that the suspension of air service had, for this reason, an importance immensely greater than its own intrinsic importance.
I told the Under Secretary that the Embassy had urged that supplies of aviation gasoline be furnished to Spain, and that I would renew my effort. I suggested to him that they also make representation to the British Embassy since the decision would have to be a joint one between the British and American Governments.
I pointed out that, whereas I had complete confidence in General Franco’s desire to achieve real neutrality and in the Foreign Office’s interpretation of that desire, the State Department and other agencies of our Government were hampered in their desire to extend cooperation between our two Governments by the effect on public opinion and on the American Congress of the continued pro-Axis attitude of the Spanish press and radio.
He assured me that the Foreign Office continued to exert every effort to improve this situation and pointed out that while much remained to be done, much also had been achieved. This is very true. This morning’s press, for example, gave prominence to pro-Allied statements of the President of Turkey.14 This is bound to have a further beneficial effect on Spanish public opinion. I told him I intended shortly to make very serious representations on the matter, and he said the Minister would welcome them.
I wish again to urge the Department and our other agencies concerned to give immediate consideration to this matter. I believe that a promise to furnish aviation gasoline for civilian air use would have the immediate effect of releasing the small remaining military stocks for use by civil airlines. This will still further reduce the small stocks now existing and any risk which might derive from the presence of those small stocks in Spain.
While actually reducing our military risks, therefore, it would deprive our enemies in Spain of the opportunity to undermine the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its undoubted and, so far, very successful efforts to draw away from the close political ties which Spain has had with the Axis since the Spanish Civil War.
[Page 673]I am confident also that if our Government can make this small concession, which is directly in its own interest, I can take advantage of the situation to obtain concessions from the Spanish Government which will still further improve our situation here and accelerate the trend toward real neutrality which the Foreign Office has brought about with the support of Franco and his Cabinet.
Our Military and Naval Attachés15 strongly support my request in this sense, and Colonel Hohenthal, in whose judgment I continue to have great confidence, considers Spain to be a potential ally rather than a potential enemy.
I hope the Department and the other agencies of our Government will not let themselves be influenced by popular conceptions of Spain’s attitude which while undoubtedly sincere, do not reflect the many favorable circumstances which I have reported to the Department and which, for obvious reasons, cannot be made public.
I can only reiterate in all sincerity that the present trend in Spain, from both the military and political point of view, is definitely in our favor, and that if we can accelerate that trend, while further reducing any possible military risks involved in the present situation, it would be less than realistic if we failed to do so.
As reported in my 621, March 15, 9 p.m., the British Embassy concurs fully and has asked that the Ministry of Economic Warfare reverse its reported decision not to permit exports of aviation gasoline to Spain.
See also my 501, and 510 of March 4. I again urge prompt and favorable action.