811.20 Defense (M) Spain/1316
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
The latest information from Madrid makes it clear that the proposal put forward by the Duke of Alba for the limitation of exports of wolfram from Spain to Germany was not authorised by his government and must therefore be disregarded. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom consider that it must now also be [Page 382] accepted (a) that the Spanish Government are firmly resolved that their commitments to Germany make a total embargo up to June 30th impossible and (b) that it will not be possible to beat the Spanish Government down below 300 tons as the total figure for exports during the remainder of 1944. Since His Majesty’s Government and the United States Government have reached agreement that if necessary a total export of 300 tons for the remainder of 1944 could be accepted, the question at issue turns on whether, in order to obtain a prompt settlement, we should agree to any exports during the next three months provided these can be kept to insignificant quantities.
In his message to the President of March 30th88 the Prime Minister proposed that every effort should be made to obtain a settlement which would allow not more than 50 tons a month to go to Germany during the next few vital months. The latest offer of the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs would mean an average of 20 tons a month for April, May and June and 40 tons a month thereafter. This is therefore a considerable improvement on the figures mentioned by the Prime Minister. His Majesty’s Government are convinced that, while the two ambassadors should do everything in their power to secure a further reduction over the next three months, both their interests and those of the United States Government will be best served by a prompt acceptance of the offer of the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, as seems likely, the Spanish Government refuses to go beyond that offer. His Majesty’s Government are greatly impressed by the urgent need for an immediate general settlement and they would consider one which allowed no more than 60 tons of wolfram to go to Germany during the vital period before June 30th and which included also an assurance of satisfaction from the Spanish Government on the questions of Axis Agents in Spain, the German Consulate at Tangier, etc., to which His Majesty’s Government attach great importance, as highly satisfactory.
In these circumstances Sir Samuel Hoare has been authorised, if he and his United States colleague are satisfied that there is no chance of improving upon the figures now proposed for the next three months, to concert action with Mr. Hayes on the basis that His Majesty’s Government for their part would accept a settlement on the lines indicated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Lord Halifax has been instructed to urge most strongly that instructions should be sent to the United States Ambassador at Madrid authorising him also to accept at once the Minister’s offer.
- No. 631, not printed.↩