881.00/8–1845: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 19—12:10 a.m.]
1762. British and French colleagues inform me of resolutions introduced by Soviet’s delegate at Tangier Conference in Paris on August 14 (1) to exclude Spain from interim regime so long as Franco Government remains in power and (2) that warships of Russia, Britain, Franco, and US be stationed off Tangier for patrol purposes command of squadron to rotate. British Ambassador has read me copies of telegram from Peake reporting proceedings. Peake states that Villard did not raise any objection to first Soviet resolution (Department’s telegram 1361, August 9, 1 p.m.66 for Villard) and seemed to feel that our Government might even be disposed to agree to second resolution. British Ambassador is expressing to Foreign Office London his concern over the reaction in Spain generally were either of Soviet proposals to be accepted. I agree with him and my French colleague that using Tangier to force the Franco issue would be a serious mistake. Exclusion of Spain even provisionally and for reasons stated from administration of Tangier would be severe blow to Spanish pride and might well have effect of rallying to Franco many of those elements now opposed to him and endeavoring to find a way to get him out. Any evolution in this direction to be successful would have to be accomplished by the army led by higher generals. Many of these have performed much of their military service in Spanish Morocco and would undoubtedly bitterly oppose any attempt to exclude Spain from Tangier. The action would be attributed to Soviet initiative and would be used by Franco as confirmation of his fears re Russia. Should our Government be reluctant to oppose Soviet proposals, I venture to suggest Department may wish to reconsider suggestion contained my telegram 1475, July 9,67 repeated London as 440, Tangier as 81, Paris as 381, that our Government and Soviet Government abstain from participation in interim regime as not having been signatories to 1923 Statute.
Refer also Embassy’s telegram 8468 to Tangier, repeated to Department as 1645, Paris as 426, commenting upon deep Spanish national (as distinct from partisan) interest in matter.
Repeated to Paris as 440, London as 512, Tangier as 92.
- Same as telegram 3753, August 9, 1 p.m., to Paris, p. 629.↩
- Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. i, p. 1001.↩
- Not printed.↩