852.00/4003: Telegram
The Third Secretary of Embassy in Spain (Wendelin) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 11:30 p.m.]
X–372. I called upon the Minister of State today to pay my respects before his departure for Geneva. Señor Alvarez del Vayo will leave [Page 591] tomorrow but will spend 2 or 3 days enroute at Barcelona and probably Paris, reaching Geneva, Wednesday. He said that the position of the Spanish Government with regard to international relations was that set forth in the speech of the Prime Minister at opening of the Cortes December 1st, reported in my telegram No. X–365 [X–366], December 2, 5 p.m.26 He declared that his Government did not intend to seek any foreign intervention at Geneva but would limit itself to presenting evidence of illegal and improper methods used by rebels in conduct of war. On this score he said that he was carrying with him a “formidable dossier”. I asked him if this included anything with reference to the reported use of gas by rebels in Madrid recently and he replied that in that connection the delegation of British members of Parliament who have just completed a visit to Madrid are in possession of ample evidence. Amplifying this subject he stated that 10 persons were affected by gas shells fired into Madrid last Wednesday.
I am of the opinion that in addition to presenting evidence on this point the Minister of State will again refer to question of German and Italian intervention, probably emphasizing recent arrival of several thousand Germans to join rebel army. He referred to this subject in our conversation, saying “imagine what would happen if we were to torpedo one of the ships bringing these men”. He added that the Spanish Government is acting with the utmost caution to avoid an international incident.
The Prime Minister will have charge of the Ministry of State during the Minister’s absence. Señor del Vayo, referring to the congratulatory telegram which he sent to President Roosevelt on the occasion of his speech at Buenos Aires,27 reiterated his high admiration for the President and requested that I furnish the Prime Minister with a copy of his speech. I agreed to do so with pleasure. Unfortunately radio bulletin containing text has not yet arrived from the Embassy at Paris.