852.00/3105: Telegram
The Third Secretary of Embassy in Spain (Wendelin) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 10—4:25 p.m.]
X–137. I called by appointment upon the Minister of State to pay my respects today and took advantage of the opportunity to refer to the attack on the Kane in the sense of the Department’s telegram No. 113, September 9, 5 p.m. The Minister recognized the value of definitely determining the identity of the attacking plane and promised to give the matter his attention.
Señor Alvarez del Vayo said that he wished to reiterate to me the assurances he had given the Chilean Ambassador, Acting Dean of the [Page 707] Diplomatic Corps, regarding the intention and ability of the Government to assure the safety of foreign missions and residents in Madrid. He declared that before agreeing to form a government Señor Largo Caballero had demanded and obtained a written agreement of support from the Syndicalist and Anarchist organizations (CNT and FAI) and that these organizations were cooperating with the Government to suppress lawless activities and punish persons found committing acts of aggression against persons or property. As evidencing this cooperation the Minister asserted that four persons, members of the CNT had been shot yesterday after conviction for such illegal and unauthorized activities. Referring to the question of food supplies the Minister asserted that no general [apparent omission] was imminent but that plans were under way to set up an organization in the Ministry of State to assure adequate food supplies for foreign missions. In view of these measures the Minister felt that foreign diplomatic missions should be in Madrid and said that he had formed the decision to deal hereafter only with diplomatic representatives here. At this point I said that the question of adequate protection, food, and water supplies, and the keeping open of means of communication were undoubtedly the principal factors in deciding whether foreign missions would remain in Madrid. The Minister then declared that he would be the first to inform foreign missions if there were any danger of the city being besieged or taken by the rebels in order that they might be safely evacuated. He personally felt absolutely confident that such contingency would not arise and mentioned that he had sent for his family to join him in Madrid.
The Minister of State requested that I inform my Government that Señor Largo Caballero as Minister of War would this afternoon offer evacuation of all women and children in the Alcazar at Toledo with formal guarantee of their safety.
Despite the assurances of the Minister of State regarding the protection and food supply of Madrid I am of the opinion that there is little justification at this time for his confidence that Madrid may not soon be attacked or cut off by the rebels. During the last few days it has become noticeably harder to obtain certain food supplies for the Embassy. Dairy products, sugar, meats, fish, are non-obtainable or extremely scarce. If rail communications with the Mediterranean coast were to be cut even temporarily a serious food shortage here would be inevitable.
Copies of this telegram have been sent to Ambassador Bowers and Embassy Paris.