852.00/3–346
The Spanish Ambassador ( Cárdenas ) to the Secretary of State
I have been instructed by my Government to communicate to Your Excellency the following:—
In view of the repeated announcement in the press and radio of this country, of the publication of a joint statement of the Governments of France, Great Britain and the United States in connection with the Spanish situation, and in the eventuality of its being true that it contains a threat to Spain to force her to change her regime, the Spanish Government wishes to inform the Government of the United States in advance that Spain repudiates any foreign pressure put upon her, since it considers that the question of its interior regime is a matter concerning exclusively its own sovereignty.30
[Page 1046]Any further foreign intervention that might appear as a threat to their independence would only serve to heighten the national feelings of the Spanish people, always zealous of the integrity of their sovereignty, the Spanish Government being, therefore, sure that national opinion shares unanimously this repulsing attitude.
Furthermore, in following this procedure, Spain is convinced that she is lending a positive service to the International Community in defending the principle of mutual respect which is the foundation of its existence.
I avail myself [etc.]
- The United States, British, and French Governments in the joint statement issued to the press March 4, 1946, urged “a peaceful withdrawal of Franco, the abolition of the Falange, and the establishment of an interim or caretaker government under which the Spanish people may have an opportunity freely to determine the type of government they wish to have and to choose their leaders.” This was followed by a promise by the three Governments not to intervene.↩