811.20 Defense (M) Spain/1282: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Hayes) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 31—2:50 p.m.]
1119. Hoare tells me that London advises him that Washington’s conditions as set forth in Department’s 815, March 24, midnight, are thoroughly unacceptable to British Government and that after discussion by War Cabinet Churchill had telegraphed a personal plea to the President.84 Hoare understands purpose of telegram is to induce our Government to accept a realistic and reasonable compromise. He requested I send a similar telegram to the President but I declined.
Hoare insists that Britain requires a prompt settlement and he says he is not even authorized to say that the Spanish proposal to ship [Page 376] 450 additional tons wolfram during the rest of the year is unacceptable to British.
Hoare and I agreed that no further initiative should be taken by us here until London and Washington have finally agreed upon a common position.
I shall await your further instructions.
- Prime Minister’s message 631, March 30, 1944, not printed.↩