740.0011 European War 1939/26105a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Hayes)
1183. From the Under Secretary. I take it for granted that you have communicated to the Nuncio the assurances given the Spanish Government of the desire of this Government scrupulously to respect Spanish sovereignty, and that our purposes in North Africa are intended to insure the liberation of the French people and are undertaken for no selfish purposes of any description. It seems to me clear that the influence of the church in Spain should be exercised to the fullest degree in order that the Spanish people may not as a result of Axis pressure be drawn into the present conflict. [Welles.]