852.00/2717: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 20—2:50 p.m.]
406. In a conversation on the Spanish situation this afternoon at the Foreign Office it was stated that the British Government attach the utmost importance to a successful conclusion of the French proposal for banning export of arms to Spain, and that the British Government was giving it full support. The Foreign Office believes the conclusion of such an agreement in principle with the European powers, including Italy and Germany, would be the most effective possible means at the present time localizing the conflict in Spain, and this statement was made with all reservations as to the practical difficulties of full enforcement in some countries. Referring to the advocacy in certain quarters of support for the so-called constituted government of Spain, the Foreign Office official said that in fact the difficulty was that there was no effective government in Spain, and that the so-called government was completely at the mercy of its violent left wing supporters. The Foreign Office is hopeful that the British declaration yesterday of a complete arms embargo in advance of full commitments from Germany and Italy will give practical evidence of British good faith and besides strengthening the hand of the French Government, whose weakness is felt to constitute itself something of an international danger in the present circumstances, will perhaps have persuasive value in determining favorable action at Rome and Berlin.
[Page 507]The announcement of the British embargo has been received with general satisfaction in the press and there is little doubt that it is in accord with the majority of responsible opinion. There are of course groups sympathetic both to the insurgents and to the popular front government, but overshadowing these sympathies, based mainly on political leanings to the right or that [the?] left, is realization of the necessity for keeping this country from being involved in the conflict and of preventing that conflict from extending beyond the Spanish borders. It is perhaps significant that there is no enthusiastic support for either side, but it is generally felt that whichever side wins Spain will be under an extremist government which in either form would present disadvantages in this country.
The Italian Chargé d’Affaires in a recent conversation made no attempt to conceal Italian sympathies for the Spanish insurgents and said that Italy could not possibly tolerate a Communist Government in Spain. This, he believed, would inevitably result from a Government victory and would give such encouragement to the Communist elements in France that it might mean the overthrow of the present “extremely weak government” in that country. Such a result, eliminating France for the time being as a major factor in European politics, would put Italy at the mercy of Germany. He said that the Italians were under no illusions as to what the position of Italy would be should Germany become paramount on the Continent.
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