852.00/8387: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 23—5 p.m.]
1034. Paragraph 3 of my 1022, August 14. Señor Del Vayo informed me this morning that in view of the negative nature of Franco’s reply to the non-intervention plan89 he summoned the French Ambassador and the British Chargé d’Affaires to the Ministry of State last evening and, after reminding them that the Spanish Government had approved the plan largely as a result of the repeated assurances and insistence of their Governments, informed them that his Government now looks to theirs to remedy the inequitable situation which prevails. I inferred that he cited Count Ciano’s recent remarkable statement to Lord Perth about “replacements” as evidence of continuing Italian intervention.
In addition to the foregoing action Del Vayo has also addressed a note to the French Govermnent formally requesting that the frontier be opened.
- Printed in the London Times, August 22, 1938.↩