852.6363/1107
The Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs (Jordana) to the American Ambassador in Spain (Hayes)60
Excellency: I have the honor to refer to Your Excellency’s courteous letter of September 6th in which you were kind enough to inform me that the Government of the United States agrees to furnish Spain the aviation gasoline required for the operation of the transport lines of the “Iberia” Company under the following conditions:
- First.—The octane rating is to be no higher than 87.
- Second.—The gasoline is to be used only by the Iberia airline for civilian purposes, unless other uses are specifically agreed to by the American and British Governments.
- Third.—Imports are not to exceed the rate of 320 metric tons per month, and stocks of aviation gasoline held by Iberia shall not exceed 640 metric tons at any one time. These are considered to be initial figures and they may be increased according to need, after agreement by both parties.
- Fourth.—Specific allocations are to be made monthly by the “Aviation Petroleum Products Allocation Committee” in Washington.
- Fifth.—Supplies are to originate in the Netherlands West Indies, are to be shipped in Spanish vessels, and, if moved in containers, the latter are to be supplied by Spain.
- Sixth.—The Petroleum Attaché will be furnished with detailed
monthly reports on all arrivals from any source, consumption and
stocks. In addition he will be given full facilities to check by
personal inspection and otherwise:
- 1)
- The distribution of the aviation gasoline admitted into Spain;
- 2)
- subsequent allocation of supplies; and
- 3)
- stocks of aviation gasoline in the hands of CAMPSA.
- It is understood that the Second Section of the General Staff for Air will inform the Military or Naval Attaché for Air of the American Embassy concerning stocks of gasoline at aerodromes whenever requested by the latter.
- Seventh.—Operations of the Iberia airline shall not be extended to the Canary Islands or Rio de Oro, or to any foreign territory, without first obtaining the express agreement of the United States and British authorities.
- Eighth.—The Iberia line will not, except by previous agreement between the British and American Governments and the Spanish Government, fly over enemy-dominated territories.
- Ninth.—The Spanish Government will make every effort to arrange for the establishment of a direct airline between Spain and Switzerland to be controlled by Spanish or Swiss interests, and to be free to carry passengers and freight of interest to Spain and Switzerland. The Government of the United States will furnish the gasoline required by this line.
- Tenth.—The foregoing is based on the understanding that Iberia
wishes to operate the following lines:
- a)
- Madrid–Lisbon
- b)
- Madrid–Barcelona
- c)
- Madrid–Seville–Tangier–Tetuán
Having pointed out in my exchanges of views with the Ambassador Spain’s need to establish a line of the Iberia Company to communicate between the Peninsula and the two Spanish provinces of the Canary Islands, the latter being an integral part of Spanish territory, I note that the Ambassador has expressed to me his hope that there will not be great difficulties in the way of a favorable decision in this matter, which is being considered by the Government at Washington. I also note that the Embassy of the United States has expressed its Government’s desire that the lines which unite Spain and Morocco should not be utilized by enemies of the United States and England, with reference to which point the necessary instructions have been given in accordance with the precepts of neutrality, except in the special cases in which agreement is reached between the Spanish Government and the interested parties.
I take the opportunity to reiterate to you, Mr. Ambassador, the assurances of my high consideration.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in his despatch No. 1373, September 25; received October 7.↩