865.30/44
The American Ambassador in Spain (Hayes) to the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs (Jordana)74
Excellency: I have the honor to refer to information received by this Embassy from the Spanish Ministry of the Marine to the effect that a number of Italian warships have entered Spanish ports in the Balearic Islands en route to Allied ports, in compliance with Article 4 of the Armistice signed on September 3rd. This Article reads as follows: “Immediate transfer of the Italian Fleet and Italian aircraft to such points as may be designated by the Allied Commander-in-Chief with details of disarmament to be prescribed by him”.
My Government assumes that these Italian war vessels will be permitted to continue their journey. If the Spanish Government is not in a position, because of a scarcity of supplies, to furnish these vessels with the fuel which may be required by them to continue their journey, I shall be glad to be informed of this circumstance and to cooperate with Your Excellency in making certain that fuel supplies are made available for that purpose.
I avail myself [etc.]
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in his despatch No. 1363, September 23; received October 7.↩