352.1115/1252a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France
B–13. The following telegram was today sent to our Embassy at Madrid and to all American Consulates in Spain:
“At his press conference on August 31, the Secretary was asked when this Government contemplates taking American naval vessels out of Spanish waters. The Secretary said:
‘It may be said in the first place that these vessels were ordered to this locality solely for the purpose of aiding American nationals in Spain to evacuate, on account of danger arising from the civil strife in that country. About one thousand Americans have been able thus far to evacuate, with the assistance of our American vessels and some foreign vessels. It is estimated that around five hundred remain at present in Spain.
As early as August 1, 1936, this Government through its Ambassador, its Consuls and other representatives in Spain, earnestly urged all American nationals to evacuate at the earliest possible date, and since that time the representatives of our Government in Spain have repeatedly urged Americans thus to leave, giving among other reasons that the danger may increase and that in any event the existing facilities for evacuation could not be counted upon indefinitely. The latest of such earnest warnings was sent out from Madrid on the morning of Sunday, August 30.
The chief portion of the five hundred American nationals who remain in Spain continue there mainly on account of business or family connections. Both our official representatives in Spain and our American vessels have rendered splendid service in this work of evacuation. It is my judgment that within the next few days it will be possible to determine more definitely by what date this task of relief will to every practical extent be completed and the present systematic activities terminated.’
“Your attention is especially drawn to the last sentence in the Secretary’s statement and you are requested for the final time to urge all Americans in your district to avail themselves of the present opportunity to leave Spain since the withdrawal in the near future of the American Government vessels now in Spanish waters is under consideration.”