851.00/5–1245: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Armour)

781. For your information only. Department has informally discussed with War Department possibility of requesting Spanish Government to deliver Laval to SHAEF.64 However, Department definitely prefers solutions already proposed, namely, direct delivery to French or delivery to Gibraltar, and we do not wish to suggest this procedure unless those proposals fail. So far British have shown no inclination to go further than to support French request for direct delivery of Laval to French. Of course, their cooperation is essential for any other solution.

Sent to Madrid as 781, repeated to Paris as 2025 and London as 3720.

Grew
  1. Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force.