840.50 Recovery/4–648: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Spain
207. Following reply was made by Secretary to Brit Amb Bogota in response to Aide-Mémoire text being repeated separately:1
“I would appreciate your sending following message to Mr. Bevin in reply to message which you were good enough to convey to me in your aide-mémoire Apr 1.
I have fullest understanding for concern expressed by Mr. Bevin [Page 412] at proposal for immediate inclusion of Spain in ERP, which appeared to be effect of amendment passed by House of Representatives Washington on Mar 30.
Mr. Bevin will no doubt have seen statement made in Washington by President’s Press Secretary on April 1 to effect that President was opposed to inclusion of this amendment.2 Amendment has now been deleted and view of US Govt remains that initiative on inclusion of Spain remains with Governments represented at original conference of CEEC in Paris”.
- The text is printed in telegram 1181 to London, supra.↩
- The Department of State Wireless Bulletin, April 1, 1948, reported that President Truman was absolutely opposed to making Spain eligible to receive ERP aid, and that he authorized his press secretary to say that “he hoped the Senate–House conferees would strike out the mention of Spain in the final legislation.”↩