740.0011 European War 1939/25350: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Hayes) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:55 p.m.]
1734. For the Under Secretary. Your November 8, noon. Nuncio was away from Madrid yesterday. I have seen him this afternoon and explained our purposes in French North Africa66 and our assurances to Spain. He expressed great satisfaction and reported that in the course of a conference he had had earlier in the day with General Jordana the latter told him the entire Ministry was gratified. The Foreign Minister told him also that German pressure was likely to be exerted to obtain naval and air bases in Spanish Morocco and perhaps on the Mediterranean seaboard of metropolitan Spain but that General Franco who had been adamant against Italy’s obtaining a naval base in the Balearics during the most difficult days of the Spanish Civil War, would be adamant against allowing Germany to occupy or use any Spanish base how. The Nuncio assured me that Jordana is determined to pursue a policy of genuine neutrality with personal leanings toward us and the British, that he is thoroughly reliable, and that in his resolve to resist German pressure he has Franco’s backing. The Nuncio believes that church leaders and the public at large in Spain are greatly relieved both by our landings in French Africa and by our assurances to Spain.