Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Western Europe, Volume IV

852.00/11–949

The Chargé in Spain (Culbertson) to the Secretary of State

confidential

Madrid, November 9, 1949.

No. 574

Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy and translation of what purports to be an agreement made in Paris by the exiled, leaders of the Monarchists, Socialists, and C.N.T. This agreement was handed to a … source by a representative of the Comité Interior de Coordinación (C.I.C.) who stated that it had come by courier from Paris and was believed to have been signed by representatives of the three groups.

It will be seen that this accord carries a stage further the process of agreement between the principal leaders of the opposition to General Franco. It pledges allegiance to the eight points of the declaration of October 1948, which was reported on page 8 of this Embassy’s despatch No. 621 of October 28, 1948.¹ Point 8 in that declaration provided for an election to determine the form of government in Spain. This Embassy’s despatch No. 371 of July 11, 1949¹ reported the next step, a declaration of adherence to Don Juan by the C.I.C. This recognition of Don Juan as the leader of the powers that aim to overthrow Franco and the implied agreement that he would form the first government to be established following that of Franco appears now to have been formalized. The alleged new agreement assumes that Don Juan will inherit power from General Franco but that he would not accept any doctrinal ties or compromises with the dictatorial regime. It provides for a declaration in which Don Juan would reaffirm all his historical rights but by his own wish would riot put them fully into effect until they should be validated by the wish of the nation. During a transition period Don Juan would act as Chief of State but would remain faithful to the principles of the declaration of 1948 and would apply the eight points contained in that declaration. The transition period would last for four years to permit the carrying out of a program for the normalization of the life of the nation.

There is no information available as to the signers of the alleged agreement. In view of the former insistence of Indalecio Prieto and Trifon Gomez that the transition government should not be Monarchist, it would be interesting to know if they are in accord. The adherence to the idea of a Monarchist transitional government by the C.I.C., containing representatives of Socialists and the C.N.T. within the country, undoubtedly had an effect on these exiled leaders and may have persuaded them to give in.

Respectfully yours,

For the Chargé d’Affaires a.i.

S. Walter Washington

First Secretary of Embassy

[Enclosure—Translation]

Alleged Agreement Between Émigré Anti-Franco Forces

confidential

Madrid, October 22, 1949.

First–General Franco would cede the power to Don Juan of Borbon. When opportune, that cession could be carried out by virtue of Article 5 of the Law of Succession dictated by the former.

Second–The acceptance of the Prince could never presuppose the acceptance of doctrinal ties nor of programatic compromises with the dictatorial regime. At the moment of the acceptance, he would declare that he reaffirmed all his historical rights, but that at his own wish he would not put them fully into effect until they should be validated by the will of the Nation.

Third–In this stage of transition, Don Juan de Borbon would act as Chief of State, with all the powers which that presupposes, but with fidelity to the principles of the joint declaration of the anti-Franco and anti-communist forces of October and November 1948.

Fourth–At the very moment of taking over the power Don Juan de Borbon would dictate a provisional organic Statute in order to make possible the application of the eight points contained in the joint declaration of the anti-Franco and anti-communist political forces of October and November 1948 which continue in full force and a copy of which is attached.

In order to give a complete effect of his proposal to give preference to the political normalization of the life of the country, the Prince will promulgate that provisional organic Statute before entering Spain, signing it in a Spanish Embassy in order that the act take place in National territory, in defense of the principle of extra-territoriality.

Fifth–In case this plan should be realized within a reasonably short time, the political and social forces subscribing will be obligated to postpone all demands for an election during a four-year period, which would permit the carrying out of the program for normalization of the national life, especially in those aspects of economic recuperation and of the practice of public liberties, the reestablishment of which will be initiated as soon as the change should go into effect.

Madrid, October 22, 1949.

1. Not printed.
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