Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Europe: Political and Economic Developments, Volume IV, Part 1

No. 382

752.5/7–351

Memorandum by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Bonbright) to the Secretary of State ¹

top secret

[Washington,] July 3, 1951.

The attached “Memorandum Regarding Conduct of Base Negotiations with Spain” is submitted for your approval. It has been cleared by Mr. Matthews and is in line with Mr. Perkins’ conversations with Admiral Sherman.

In accordance with the British and French requests for further consultations concerning Spain, a meeting was held with British representatives, including Air Chief Marshal Sir William Elliot, on June 21 and French representatives, including General Murtin, on June 22, on which occasions our policy and objectives were explained by Admiral Sherman and Mr. Perkins. On June 29 the British Embassy requested that before initiating bilateral conversations in Madrid, we await their views, which would receive Cabinet consideration on July 5. We expect, therefore, to hear further from them during this week.

In the meanwhile, we have asked Ambassador Griffis in Madrid to send us his comments on the proposed procedure for negotiations.²

If Admiral Sherman should go, it is planned that he would leave here not later than July 15 in order to begin conversations with General Franco prior to the latter’s farewell reception on July 18 when he leaves for his summer residence.³

[Attachment]

Memorandum Regarding the Conduct of Base Negotiations With Spain

top secret

[Washington,] June 25, 1951.

The following course of action is recommended for the negotiation with the Spanish Government of the military operating facilities required in Spain.

Admiral Sherman or another high-ranking officer should accompany the Ambassador when the negotiations are opened. This would involve discussions with General Franco to follow up his assurance to the Ambassador that base facilities in Spanish territory would be available to the U.S. and his agreement in principle of June 27 to “conversations of a defensive military character.” Subsequent discussions with high Spanish military authorities would probably then take place.

Since a high-ranking officer would undoubtedly be unable to remain to carry out the entire negotiations, these initial talks should prepare the way for a small group from Defense to continue the negotiations. As in the case of the current Azores negotiations with the Portuguese Government,⁴ this group would be under the general direction of the Ambassador and would be assisted, as required, by the Service Attachés and by other members of the Embassy staff. It should consist of a high-ranking officer from both the Air Force and the Navy; these Departments will probably each wish to send a representative from their legal staffs and the office of the Secretary of Defense may also wish to be represented.

The Ambassador should be instructed in advance to inform Franco that it is planned to send a high-ranking officer to Spain to initiate negotiations for air and naval base facilities in Spain. He should also be instructed to ask Franco to receive him and this officer.

From what is known of the Ambassador’s opinion on this subject, he would welcome both Admiral Sherman’s visit and the assistance of other officers in the technical military and legal aspects which these negotiations will involve.

The agreement itself can be set up in the same general pattern we are using in other cases. This would include a main government-to-government agreement with one or more annexes covering the more technical military, jurisdictional and other matters which are not covered in the government agreement. The details on this can be worked out with the Air Force and Navy.⁵

1. Drafted by Byington.
2. On July 5 Ambassador Griffis urged that Admiral Sherman come to Madrid no later than July 16. (Telegram 14, 752.5/7–551)
3. At the bottom of the source text, next to the typewritten word “Approved”, are Secretary Acheson’s initials.
4. For information on this subject, see Document 352.
5. President Truman approved this memorandum and the dispatch of Admiral Sherman to Spain at the Cabinet meeting on July 6. (Memorandum dated July 6 and letter from Secretary Acheson to Secretary Marshall, dated July 10, S/S–NSC files, lot 63D351, NSC 72 files)