Office of the Historian

852.79662/9–844: Telegram

The Ambassador in Spain (Hayes) to the Secretary of State

San Sebastián, September 8, 1944—4 p.m.
[Received 4:48 p.m.]

SS25. My telegram SS24 September 8, noon69 reports in full my conversation with Lequérica70 today regarding non-asylum for Axis leaders.71

I also stressed again that my Government regarded the prompt suppression of the German air service with Spain as of utmost urgency. I characterized the line as being no more than an appendage of the German Embassy and Government serving their military and communications ends. The point that its flights over areas of Allied military operations are intolerable to us was reiterated. He said that the topic would be first in his personal conversation with Franco72 (preceding my appointment) on Monday.73 He hoped that Franco would order stoppage of the line.

[Page 445]

The subject of the stores sent in to Spain from southwest France during the period of German evacuation was briefly touched. I expressed pleasure at the order of the Director General of Customs requiring the latter’s specific authority for the release of any such goods. This order results from American, British, French representations to the Foreign Office.

Repeated to Madrid.

Hayes
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. José Felix Lequérica, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
  3. For correspondence relating to asylum for war criminals, see vol. i, pp. 1410 ff.↩
  4. Generalissimo Francisco Franco, Spanish Chief of State.↩
  5. September 11.↩