Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Western Europe, Volume III

852.00/6–2948

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. William B. Dunham of the Division of Western European Affairs

confidential

[Washington,] June 29, 1948.

Participants:	Mr. Baraibar, Chargé d’Affaires of the Spanish Embassy
	Mr. Achilles, Chief, WE
	Mr. Dunham, WE

During his call this morning, Mr. Baraibar was shown a copy of a telegram¹ from Mr. Culbertson in which he reported that he had been informed by the Foreign Minister that the Spanish Government expects to announce within the next few weeks the holding of municipal elections in Spain sometime during October or November.

Mr. Achilles said this was a very hopeful sign and he hoped the Spanish Government would go through with this action. He felt that any measures taken by the Spanish Government to dramatize the elections would be helpful in indicating to the world that Spain, in its own way and its own time, was moving in the direction of more liberal domestic policies. He mentioned to Mr. Baraibar that any of these actions taken before the forthcoming General Assembly in Paris would undoubtedly have a beneficial effect.

1. Not printed.