711.52/427: Telegram
The Ambassador in Spain (Hayes) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 28—6:45 a.m.]
1451. My 1431, April 25, 6 p.m. I informed the British Ambassador yesterday of my conversation with Jordana on Monday19 and said I thought there was still a slight chance of our persuading the Spanish Government to reach a prompt agreement with us on the basis of the proposal I had then made, namely, no further export of wolfram before June 30 and thereafter export of 50 tons a month. I explained Jordana while expressing very great pessimism about the outcome had promised to re-submit the proposal to the Government and to inform me of the result as soon as possible. I also indicated that if Jordana’s reply was unfavorable I would ask him to arrange for me an interview with Franco. In the meantime I felt sure that the temporary embargo could be maintained and thus carried into May.
The Ambassador said that a good deal of water had gone over the dam since my conversation with Jordana on Monday. On Tuesday he had received a number of telegrams from London and Washington explaining that our two Governments were finally agreed on accepting the original Jordana proposal. I asked him if he had definite instructions on the matter. He said he had, and outlined them as follows: We would try to reach an agreement whereby 40 tons of wolfram could be exported to Germany between now and June 30 although if the Spaniards objected to this we might increase the allowable export to 60 tons between now and June 30 and then 40 tons a month could be exported thereafter. Also he had been instructed to support me earnestly in representations hoping towards the removal of the Japanese military agency in Tangier though this was not to be made a part of the wolfram agreement. He understood moreover that I was receiving identic instructions.
I told the Ambassador instructions were just coming in to me, that I too understood agreement had been reached between London and Washington but inasmuch as all the messages had not been decoded as yet I could not tell him precisely what my instructions were. I would inform him, however, as soon as possible. He said he thought I should seek an interview with Jordana at the earliest possible moment and communicate to him the proposal on which the British and American Governments were now agreed. I said it seemed much better to await a summons from Jordana and ascertain whether he had been able to obtain from’ the Spanish Government authorization to conclude an agreement along the lines of my original proposal. At any rate until [Page 405] I knew precisely what my latest instructions were, I was in no position to seek an interview with Jordana.
As I was about to leave Beaulac transmitted to me the telephone message he had just received from Dunn in Washington. I told the British Ambassador about it and said this reinforced my conviction that neither of us should talk with Jordana until the whole matter was further clarified. He seemed to agree to this and said he was going home to keep certain engagements he had made there. We separated at 7:15 p.m.
I saw Hoare again this morning. He stated that after I had talked with him yesterday afternoon he had received a message that Jordana wished to see him. He had therefore called on Jordana. He found the Minister greatly agitated at the prospect of facing the Council of Ministers at an adjourned meeting this morning and very anxious to receive some kind of assurance from the British Ambassador that a wolfram agreement would be quickly reached. The Ambassador said he told the Minister he had no communication to make but that he hoped very much the Council of Ministers would delay taking any steps which might imperil the reaching of an agreement. He counselled Jordana to take Franco aside before the meeting and point out to him the desirability of avoiding discussion in the Council of Ministers on the matter and of postponing any decision for a week. The Ambassador said he told the Minister that while he could make no communication to him he [apparent omission] on to believe that London and Washington were disposed with Spanish cooperation to reach an agreement within the next very few days. It should be easy because there was such very little difference remaining between Spain and the Allies. According to Hoare the Minister seemed to be heartened and better prepared to meet the Council of Ministers this morning.
The Minister also expressed to Hoare his hope that any statement to be issued from Washington or London would be couched in most general terms simply saying that an agreement had been reached. Hoare pointed out certain difficulties in the way of any such general statement but expressed sympathy with Jordana’s subsequent proposal that the statement should not give the impression that Spain was being rubbed in the dust by the Allies but was completing and perfecting her strict neutrality. Hoare told Jordana that he would recommend to London and Washington compliance with the latter’s wishes in this matter.
The Ambassador said that until he had further clarification from London he must assume that the British will take over the oil supply from the Americans. My 1450, April 27, 2 p.m. He gave me a copy of the proposed statement of Mr. Churchill and said it clearly [Page 406] indicated the belief in London that Great Britain would assume responsibility for supplying and supervising the distribution of petroleum products in Spain. I explained that the telegrams I had recently received from Washington clearly implied that the Americans would continue supplying the petroleum after a mutually satisfactory agreement about wolfram and other pending matters was reached.
Repeated to London.
- April 24.↩