711.52/303: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Hayes)
2533. The Spanish Ambassador called on me at his request November 2250 and urged the continuance of close relations between our two governments, assuring me that his Government was doing its utmost, including taking favorable action on a number of our requests. I said I understood this but must stress very earnestly that the whole favorable atmosphere in our relations had been most seriously damaged by the Laurel message which was incomprehensible here. I said this made it extremely important that his Government proceed forthwith to act favorably on such requests as wolfram embargo, expulsion of Germans from Tangier, and release of Italian war and merchant vessels. The Ambassador agreed.
I remarked that many people over here had been wondering, since the Laurel message, whether mistakes were being committed by the Spanish Government in its internal matters, thus interfering with his Government’s ability to proceed promptly with requests such as those pending from us. I spoke of the intense feeling in this country with regard to Japan resulting from that country’s barbarous methods, and said our people could not understand why Spain should take an action such as that referred to. This made expeditious action upon our requests the more important. The Ambassador said he would very earnestly and emphatically advise his Government.
- See memorandum supra.↩