125.199/65: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France
B–390. Your 408, December 7, 11 a.m. We approve Chapman’s delaying his departure on leave for not to exceed one week. If the necessary permission for him to proceed to Bilbao to reopen the Consulate is not received during that period he should depart on leave next week. We do not believe that it would be desirable for Chapman to “proceed with further endeavors to obtain permission to return to Bilbao”, but rather to await developments. We are not disposed to take any further action with respect to obtaining permission of the insurgent authorities.