881.00/9–1545: Telegram

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

SS38. My SS33 September 4. Spanish Government’s reply to joint Anglo-French note of September 4 conveying results of Tangier conversations was handed to British Ambassador and French Delegate by Foreign Minister on afternoon of September 13. Main points of reply which were set forth in lengthy note bearing date of September 12 may be summarized as follows:

1.
Spanish Government is agreeable to prompt restoration in Tangier Zone of international regime in force prior to June 14, 1940 (including [Page 661] modification embodied in previous Span exchange of notes of 1935) and to participation therein of other interested nations.
2.
Spanish Government reserves its rights with respect to modification of statutory regime contained in Anglo-French accord of August 31 insofar as such modifications may prejudice rights accruing to Spain by virtue of previous negotiations and is obliged to reject amendments set forth in article 7 of that accord.
3.
Spanish Government is disposed to negotiate with British and French Governments at a conference such as that envisaged in Anglo-French notes of September 4 with respect to modification of existing agreements governed by administration of Tangier Zone.

Note sets forth customary defence of Spain’s action in Tangier and expresses continued belief of Spanish Government the inclusion of Tangier in Spanish Zone of Morocco under authority of Jalifa [Khalifa] offers “most logical and favorable solution” to Tangier problem. It refers briefly to text of four power Final Act and undertakes energetically to refute “certain attitudes and intentions” reflected in pages 8 and 9 of that Act. Note refrains however from any direct comment on proposed Soviet participation in provisional regime merely acknowledging fact that Soviet and United States Governments have been invited to participate.

With reference to latter point it may be mentioned that Foreign Minister reiterated to me this morning that Spain would not be inclined to object to presence of Russian representation in Tangier administration so long as such representation were not utilized as springboard for interference in Spanish political situation. He went on to suggest moreover that Spanish Government might even look with favor on resumption of relations with Soviet Government provided United States would guarantee that Soviet representation in Spain would likewise not be used as base for inimical political activities. Under Secretary del Castillo who has just been named Spanish representative in Tangier and who claims to have drafted Spanish reply expressed similar sentiments during course of my conversation with him in Madrid earlier this week and suggested that presence of Soviet representatives in Tangier might in fact provide opening wedge toward resumption of Spanish-Soviet relations.

In view of length of Spanish reply and inasmuch as British Embassy states that its telegram to London conveying text of that reply has been repeated to British Embassy Washington from which it may be obtained by Department we are not telegraphing full text but will forward it by next air pouch.88

Repeated to Paris, London, by courier to Madrid, Tangier.

Armour
  1. Not printed.