852.01/131: Telegram.
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 4—3:55 p.m.]
511. Your circular October 28, 6 p.m. From a conversation with a high official of the Foreign Office who, while speaking with apparent frankness, stated definitely that he could at the moment only express his personal views, I have the following impression:
The British feel that Germany and Italy will recognize Franco’s government almost immediately he enters Madrid. In view of the known sympathy of those two Governments with Franco’s movement, the British feel that their influence at Madrid will in that event be very powerful and that it will consequently be essential for the Governments of the democratic countries to take some early action which [Page 551] will prevent Franco from falling completely into the pockets of Berlin and Rome. The question of recognition of Franco, should he be successful, is now being carefully studied in the Foreign Office. The official felt it to be important that some “middle ground,” short of actual immediate recognition, be found which would meet the situation of fact. He emphasized that the matter was still under consideration and that no real decision had been reached.
Copy to Paris.