852.00/8089
The Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France, to the Secretary of State
[Received June 14.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that in continuance of their criminal policy of bombing civilian peoples in the hope of breaking the [Page 203] morale of the republicans, the Fascist Powers, allied with General Franco, reached the climax thus far in bombing the little town of Granollers, thirty kilometers from Barcelona, and killing between 350—according to some reports—and 500—according to most—women and children.
The London Times rather tamely offers an apologetic explanation to the effect that the bombs were intended for Barcelona but since the anti-aircraft guns there drove the Italian and German planes away they “had to drop their bombs before landing”, the presumption being that it was impossible to drop them in the open fields or any place else except a market town.
The town of Granollers ordinarily has a population of but 10,000, but because of refugees from Barcelona it is now said to contain 20,000 people.
The attempt of the Fascists to make it appear that this village has military objectives will not wash, in view of the fact that the two or three small factories were not touched and the bombs were aimed at the center of the town by the City Hall and the market place. It was market day and fifty peasant women at the stalls were mangled.
I note in the press that our Vice Consul at Valencia and the British Consul lodged protests with the Foreign Office Monday after bombs were dropped by Franco planes on Perello, twenty-five miles south of Valencia, and within half a mile of their homes. These bombs had been intended for Valencia but here again the rebel planes were driven off. Since the bombs were dropped by Franco’s men, the filing of a protest with the Spanish Government’s Foreign Office seems futile, and if the protest was lodged with the Foreign Office in London it does not seem probable that our Vice Consul joined. The report appears in the Manchester Guardian, June 1.
The bombing of the village of Granollers brings this form of outrage to within a few kilometers of the village where our Embassy is situated. Some time ago I suggested to Mr. Thurston my willingness informally to notify the rebel authorities of our presence in this village as the British have done in the case of the village where they have their Embassy, but he did not think it necessary then since the village in which our people are has no possible military value or objective.
After talking with most rabid Spanish supporters of Franco from across the border I am convinced that this bombing wholesale of villages and civilians is exceedingly distasteful to a large part of the Spaniards. They frankly expressed abhorrence of this practice and ascribe it to the insistence of the Italians and particularly of the Germans. There is no doubt that the Germans have insisted on this policy of extermination regardless of women and children from the early days of the war. A portion of the German press has recently been bitterly [Page 204] denouncing the Loyalists for not surrendering, and I am personally convinced that in their anxiety to end the war—and the expense—as quickly as possible, an intensive policy of terrorism may be expected in the hope of breaking the spirit of the people behind the lines. The general effect of these beastial acts, however, has been to stiffen the resistance and to convert the indifferent into militants.
Respectfully yours,