752.13/10–1551: Despatch
The Special Assistant to the Ambassador in Portugal (Xanthaky) to the Department of State 1
No. 280
Subject: Spanish Pretender, Don Juan: His Letter of July 10, 1951 Addressed to Generalissimo Franco2
Over the weekend I resumed my periodic conversations with Don Juan, the Spanish Pretender. It was our first encounter since July 11 (Embassy Telegram under reference3), he having been absent from Portugal most of the summer and I having just returned to Lisbon after a month’s vacation. Don Juan told me that he had been extremely annoyed about the “leak” to the press of his letter dated July 10 addressed to Generalissimo Franco, a summary of which was reported in the New York Times of August 5, under a Lisbon date line, by Sam Pope Brewer, Madrid correspondent of the Times. The Pretender explained that he had personally handed that letter to Nicolas Franco, the Spanish Ambassador here, for delivery to his brother on the same day he last saw me, it being understood between them that the contents would be kept highly confidential. Don Juan mentioned that that was the reason why he did not inform me of the letter at the time. It was while he was in Tangier, he said, that he learned of Brewer’s “scoop” and added that the latter had done him a disservice as the effect was prejudiced by the premature publicity. The Pretender said that he had endeavored to get at the bottom of the “leak” and that his Madrid agents had informed him that Brewer had obtained a copy of the letter from the American Embassy in Lisbon. I told Don Juan emphatically that that was of course nonsense, first, because the Embassy did not have a copy of the letter, and, second, because obviously it was not the Embassy’s practice to make secret documents available to press correspondents. The Pretender said he was convinced of this and that he had recently come to the conclusion that one of his advisers, Saenz Rodriguez, who had seen Brewer in Lisbon several times last July, in a moment of indiscretion had allowed the latter, who is said to harbor anti-Franco sentiments, to read the letter in question.
[Page 869]The Pretender then told me about ten days ago he had received a lengthy communication from Franco in reply to his letter of July 10 but regretted that for the time being he could not show it to me. I believe that Don Juan’s reluctance is due to the fact that, among other things, the Caudillo in his reply dwelt upon his present negotiations with the United States. I gained this impression from Don Juan’s statement that the Caudillo was apparently willing to grant us military facilities based upon substantial quid pro quos. “I of course would do the same thing and you can’t blame him for that,” Don Juan commented. The Pretender did state, however, that Franco’s message indicated a psychological softening of attitude toward him and a definite feeling that under no circumstances does the Generalissimo desire to cast him aside. “For example”, said Don Juan, “the Caudillo replied to every one of the issues raised in my letter of July 10 including my remarks on abdication of my rights. The Caudillo stated that he was only touching on that point because I myself had raised it and that of course there was no truth in the stories that he, Franco, had ever made such a suggestion.” Don Juan also mentioned that Franco’s reply to his July 10th observation that graft in Spain had reached scandalous proportions was to the effect that such criticism is always greatly exaggerated by any political opposition and that while corruption, to a greater or lesser degree, was common in practically all governments it was probably more prevalent in the United States, the greatest of all democracies, than anywhere else. Concerning the likelihood of his meeting again with Franco, which has been under consideration for some time, the Pretender said that there is still a possibility that it may take place. Franco, he stated, still desires it but he, the Pretender, continues adamant in establishing beforehand a concrete basis for discussion which, he added, Franco is still endeavoring to sidestep. Nevertheless, concluded the Pretender, the matter continues in the pour parler stage.