852.00/11–1048

The Ambassador in Portugal (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State

secret

No. 414

Sir: With reference to my despatch no. 352 of September 21, 1948, and my airgram no. A–319 of September 14, 1948,1 I have the honor to enclose a memorandum of conversation dated November 2 between Don Juan, Pretender to the throne of Spain, and Mr. Theodore Xanthaky, Attaché of this Embassy and Special Assistant to the Ambassador.

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.

Respectfully yours,

Lincoln MacVeagh
[Enclosure]

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Theodore Xanthaky, Special Assistant to the Ambassador in Portugal

secret

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.

  1. Despatch 352, p. 1050, gave another account of the meeting between Don Juan and General Franco. Airgram A–319 is not printed.
  2. Not printed.
  3. The interview took place on August 25 off the coast of San Sebastian.
  4. Saenz Rodriguez, a leading Spanish Monarchist in exile.