811B.01/496: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Hayes)
2358. Department’s 2344, November 3, 7 p.m. The Spanish Ambassador called at the Department this afternoon in response to a request from Mr. Atherton, and in a discussion of the message of the Spanish Government to Laurel repeated substantially what he had said to Mr. Long on October 30. Mr. Atherton said he was convinced that, with a view to the interest of Spain, the Spanish Government [Page 727] would wish to furnish us a statement with the understanding that we would release it to the press. As regards the terms of such a statement, Mr. Atherton said he felt that no message to Laurel should ever have been sent, and that the only really effective means of correcting the mistake committed would be a complete disavowal of the message. This the Ambassador said he was sure the Spanish Government could not do. The Spanish Government had to think of its dignity and also of its interests and of the colony of Spanish citizens in the Philippines. He thought that a disavowal would jeopardize those interests and those Spanish citizens. Mr. Atherton said that the incident was shaping up very badly here and that however he, the Ambassador, might regard it, the message to Laurel had been a direct affront to the American nation and certainly had implied recognition of the puppet government in the Philippines. This evidently was the understanding of Japan and Germany, inasmuch as their propaganda made use of the message in this way. He pointed out that Laurel had received similar messages from Germany, Bulgaria, and Hungary, and that the association of Spain with this group plus the Japanese Government sponsoring Laurel, could not fail to strike the American public with force. The Ambassador was then asked what sort of statement he thought might be used as a corrective. He said he was unable to suggest anything offhand but that he would like to give the matter some thought. It was concluded that he would prepare a draft for discussion with Mr. George.99 The Ambassador made the point that he of course would have to submit any statement to his Government prior to release.
- William P. George, of the Division of European Affairs.↩