125.199/49: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France, to the Secretary of State
[Received November 12—10:49 a.m.]
392. Yrujo reports this morning he has just received a reply from Salamanca regarding Chapman which merely says “await new instructions”. I am afraid this means that we are to be asked if in return we will permit Franco to send consuls or “agents” to the States. This is the more astonishing since Carney of the Times informs me that on Wednesday in San Sebastian he was approached by the first lieutenant of Sangroniz with the intelligence that “you are to reopen your Consulate in Bilbao”. He was not only told he could publish it but asked to do so with the comment that “following the British arrangements this is to the good”. It is possible that Sangroniz’s reference to “new instructions” means that he is seeking confirmation of Franco’s assurances that we can open.