No. 414
The Department will note that the Pretender spoke to Mr. Xanthaky with
apparent frankness concerning his meeting with General Franco at San
Sebastian last summer and also concerning recent rumors of an agreement
between the Spanish Royalist and Socialist parties. The gist of his
remarks would seem to be that he feels his meeting with Franco has been
of real use to him, particularly in dispelling certain misconceptions on
the part of the Caudillo, and that any understanding between adverse
Spanish political groups should be in the public interest.
[Enclosure]
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Theodore Xanthaky, Special Assistant
to the Ambassador in Portugal
secret
[Lisbon,] November 2, 1948.
On Saturday, October 30, I met Don Juan, the Spanish Pretender,
casually at the Golf Club in Estoril. At that time he told me he had
sent for his son, the Prince of Asturias, who was in Switzerland,
and that after a few days in Estoril with his family the young man
will proceed to Madrid to begin his studies there. (Embassy’s
airgram No. 365 of November 1, 1948).2 I expressed interest and Don Juan
[Page 1060]
said he would get in
touch with me sometime during the ensuing week to tell me the real
story of his interview with Franco, the Spanish Chief of State. Last
night Viscount Rocamora, the Pretender’s Aide, telephoned making an
appointment for me with Don Juan at his home in Estoril today. Don
Juan greeted me by saying that his son had arrived from Switzerland
the night before and was leaving for Madrid about November 10. He
then pitched into the following story of his encounter with
Franco.
For some time past, the advisability of a meeting with the Caudillo
had been suggested to him, but nothing ever came of it. Early last
summer Julio Danvila, a staunch monarchist and a Director of the
Bank of Spain, (representing the private shareholders), visited Don
Juan in Estoril and told him he had occasion to see Franco quite
often and volunteered to arrange a meeting. Don Juan agreed but
thought it would go the way of previous similar efforts. Very much
to his surprise while in England last July, where he had gone with
his friend, Galindez, on the latter’s yacht Saltillo for the Olympic Games, he received a telegram
from Danvila informing that the encounter had been arranged.
At the appointed time and place,3 Franco came on board the Saltillo. They talked alone for over three hours. Franco
immediately launched into the Pretender’s past mistakes. Don Juan
countered by saying that he, Franco, had also made plenty of those
and the past was the past and they had better talk about the present
and the future. Franco took this goodnaturedly and said that perhaps
he was right. Franco then assured the Pretender that he had always
been and continued to be his candidate for the throne (Don Juan
remarked to me that he had not forgotten that Franco last year was
considering other names). Franco then brought up the subject of the
education of the young Prince of Asturias in Spain. Don Juan replied
that he was agreeable to this but that he would have to receive
certain commitments before he would consent, such as (1) political
amnesty for monarchists at present under arrest; (2) guarantee that
monarchists would not be persecuted by the authorities; and (3)
freedom of monarchical press activity in the newspaper “ABC”. Franco
said that he would give consideration to these points and believed
there would be no difficulty in this respect. (Don Juan remarked to
me that Franco is now in the process of meeting all three desiderata.) Don Juan then emphasized to
Franco that he wished to make it perfectly clear that by sending his
son to Spain he did not renounce any of his rights to the throne.
Franco was in entire accord and said that he would allow a statement
to this effect to be published in Spain. Don Juan wanted the
Caudillo
[Page 1061]
to make the
statement but the latter hedged and said he thought it would be
better if it came from Don Juan. During the conversation, Franco
gave Don Juan his impressions on what the monarchy should be like.
Don Juan thought these decidedly archaic. For example, Franco talked
of Philip II and very much in the vein of an absolute monarchy. The
Pretender reminded Franco that he continued firmly to hold ideas on
this subject which he had already publicly espoused, i.e. a
constitutional monarchy along democratic lines. By that, he said, he
did not mean that the political system of another nation should be
taken and bodily implanted in Spain; Spanish traditions and
temperament would have to be taken into consideration. Don Juan said
that never once during the conversation did Franco mention that he
intended to turn over the government to him at a given date. As a
matter of fact, he said, Franco repeatedly talked in terms of
20-year periods, which he thought significant inasmuch as Franco is
57. As an illustration, Franco mentioned that he expected his
economic planning would bear fruit within 20 years, etc. Therefore,
Don Juan got no impression that Franco is contemplating
relinquishing power voluntarily in the foreseeable future. He
stated, however, that in his opinion this initial contact has been
useful to him. Among other things he believes he has dispelled from
Franco’s mind certain misconceptions which he had reason to believe
Franco entertained concerning him. Commenting on the Caudillo’s
political position, he said that Franco could not be overthrown by
external pressure and that his internal hold on Spain was very
solid. Only a period so distressing economically as to drive the
country to desperation could unseat him. Although the economic
condition of Spain is far from good, it has not reached the breaking
point and Franco could always resort to palliatives at least
temporarily to avert such a situation. He said that several times
during the conversation, Franco spoke of his friendship for Don
Juan’s father, Alfonso XIII, with tears in his eyes. Franco was
extremely voluble and it had been very difficult for Don Juan to get
in his counter arguments. Plow-ever, he had been rehearsing in his
mind for many years exactly what he would say to Franco when they
met and he believed that he had gotten over his points. The
Pretender said that although there had probably been a
predisposition of dislike on both sides, the interview had found
both mutually “simpatico”. During the conversation Franco always
addressed Don Juan as “Alteza” (Highness). Franco complained about
the treatment he was getting in the international sphere, to which
Don Juan retorted “what could you expect from the victory of the
democracies after your attitude toward the Fascist states?” Franco
then said he did not believe there would be a war for another two or
three years. Don Juan told me that he contradicted and challenged
[Page 1062]
Franco’s statements
repeatedly and it has come back to him from Artajo, the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, via a mutual friend, that Franco not only did not
resent this but apparently was impressed. Don Juan found Franco very
hazy on economic subjects and that, though by no means a fool, he
was an hombre primario.
The Pretender said he has no illusions about Franco. He remarked,
however, that up to the time of his interview he was making no
progress and he now feels that at least he has “gotten his foot in
the door”. Don Juan mentioned to me that Alfonso XIII had been best
man at Franco’s wedding and therefore a few days ago on the occasion
of the Caudillo’s silver wedding anniversary, he sent him a message
of felicitations. Don Juan showed me Franco’s handwritten reply
which he had just received. It was addressed “Mi Principe” and
terminated “conlealtad y afecto” (with loyalty and affection), and
stated what a great honor it had been for him and his wife to have
received his message and that he owed his happiness to Don Juan’s
father, Alfonso XIII.
Don Juan then spoke of the recent publicity in connection with a
so-called agreement between the monarchists and the socialists. He
said that as the monarch he considered it his duty to be above
political factions. He believed, however, that any understanding
between adverse political groups tending to harmonize differences of
opinion would be useful and in the public interest. He said that
last year Gil Robles and Saenz Rodriguez4
drafted some of the clauses of a document in this sense which was
being discussed between the monarchists and the socialists. He said
it was more in the nature of a set of political principles rather
than an operating agreement between parties and that as he
understood it, no signatures were required. In any event he said it
was an old story, as Robles had told the British all about it last
year. Now the Socialist Leader, Indalecio Prieto, perhaps aided and
abetted by an irresponsible monarchist named Ansaldo, who has a
house at St. Jean de Luz, had chosen unilaterally to give unwelcome
publicity to what was intended to be a confidential matter.
Don Juan also mentioned that when he visited London last November for
the royal wedding, King George arranged an interview for him with
Bevin at Buckingham Palace. On that occasion he told Bevin that
their pinpricking policy against Franco was contra
producente and getting him, Don Juan, nowhere. Bevin
replied, “Well, we withdrew our Ambassadors from Madrid for you” to
which Don Juan replied, “Yes, and that was a great mistake.” Don
Juan also told Bevin that if he thought they were going to restore
the monarchy in order to make the socialist Indalecio Prieto Prime
Minister, they were very much mistaken; Prieto would probably be
shot if he as much as showed
[Page 1063]
up in Madrid. Bevin laughed and said, “Well,
my boy, carry on as best you can. You know that we are for you” and
at the same time strongly implied that the British would do nothing
practical towards his regaining his throne. Don Juan remarked to me,
“I believe, therefore, that the British cannot be too upset by my
meeting with Franco.” Don Juan then terminated our interview and
promised to keep me currently informed as to developments.
