Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1937, General, Volume I

852.00/6488: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State

Paris, September 18, 1937—6 p.m.
[Received September 18—3:35 p.m.]

1312. We were told at the Foreign Office today that the decision to withdraw French and British warships from the control on the coasts of Nationalist Spain⁶⁰ in no way affects the continuing obligations of non-intervention in Spain assumed by the various powers. Neutral observers will continue to be carried by the merchant vessels of the states parties to the Non-intervention Agreement and the control exercised by the French authorities on the Pyrenean frontier will be maintained as heretofore.

It was explained that a technical subcommittee of the Non-intervention Committee had presented a report at the end of August on the functioning of the control scheme⁶¹ in which it was pointed out that the naval patrol on the Spanish coasts had not proved of value and that control might be improved through increasing the power of observers at ports exporting to Spain. In view of this; of the fact that Italy and Germany had already withdrawn from the patrol and in particular since France and Britain would find it difficult to provide sufficient destroyers to maintain both the control off Spain and the patrol over sea routes in the Mediterranean in accordance with the Nyon Arrangement the French and British Governments had decided to withdraw their ships from the Spanish coasts. The net result was that Franco’s coasts would no longer be controlled by French and British war vessels.

The Foreign Office stated that in furnishing to the Italian and German Governments the text of the supplementary arrangement signed yesterday relating to attacks by airplanes and surface warships and in asking for observations a further invitation, in effect, was being given to Italy to discuss the exact terms on which she would be prepared to come into the Nyon accord.

The Naval Attaché advises that France has detailed 19 destroyers to the anti-piracy patrol, 1 aircraft tender, 1 squadron of 6 scouting planes, 1 squadron of 6 bombing planes, 10 large and several small reconnaissance planes.

Copies by mail to London, Rome, Berlin, and Geneva.

Bullitt

60. Announced on September 17.
61. Report made by Vice Admiral van Dulm and Francis Hemming, Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the Non-intervention Board; this report was submitted to the Non-intervention Subcommittee on August 27, 1937.