Sir Samuel Hoare 65 has telegraphed Gascoigne from Lisbon that Spanish Government has been informed by Berlin that German Government will take steps appropriate to the situation. According to Hoare, Jordana 6 is complaining that British and Americans appear to be treating settlement as a victory over Spain rather than Germany and that his position has been made extremely difficult. 66 Germans here are attempting to make it appear that agreement regarding their expulsion is merely Allied propaganda. It is reported that local Italian Fascist leaders were called to German Consulate yesterday and informed that Madrid settlement made no mention of closing German Consulate here. Repeated Madrid and Algiers for Murphy. ELBRICK 711.52/457: Telegram The Ambassador in Spain (Hayes) to the Secretary of State MADRID, May 6, 1944-4 p. m. [Received May 8-2:53 p. m.] 1568. I saw the Foreign Minister this morning and among other things discussed the subject matter of Tangier's 49 of May 4 to the Department. Jordana stated that the first step in implementing the agreement had been taken, namely, by the Spanish Government serving written notice on the German Government that the German Consulate General must be closed. Incidentally, I learn from another but wellinformed source that the German reply was that it would "take the action appropriate to the circumstances" which was the same reply it made to Portgual in connection with the Azores Agreement.67 Jordana went on to say that Spain fully intended to take all necessary steps to carry out the agreement promptly but that they would have to be taken one at a time. At the same time he complained with some vehemence that the character of recent British and American radio broadcasts was such as to cause him embarrassment. HAYES 65 Sir Samuel Hoare, British Ambassador in Spain. 66 Count Francisco Gómez Jordana, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs. 67 Presumably a reference to the agreement between the United Kingdom and Portugal concerning facilities in the Azores; the notes constituting the agreement were exchanged at Lisbon on August 17, 1943; British and Foreign State Papers, vol. CXLVI, pp. 447-452. For correspondence relating to the interest of the United States in the negotiations leading to the agreement and in obtaining its own facilities in the Azores, see Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. II, pp. 527 ff., and ibid., 1944, vol. IV, pp. 1 ff. 711.52/458: Telegram The Chargé at Tangier (Elbrick) to the Secretary of State TANGIER, May 8, 1944-7 p. m. [Received 8:10 p. m.] 107. Legation's 104, May 6.68 Gascoigne reports interview with Orgaz today was very unsatisfactory and that latter was most uncooperative. Orgaz said no instructions had been received re expulsion of Germans and he would take no action until he receives them. He said German agents and saboteurs in special zone and Tangier were to be considered for expulsion on their merits. He indicated, however, that Jap Military Attaché there would be asked today to arrange his departure. Later Castillo informed Gascoigne that Orgaz will try to sabotage the agreement, that he will do everything possible to avoid necessity of expelling Germans, that he instructed Castillo to inform Jap representative here that he may take as long as he likes to arrange his departure. Castillo said Orgaz has actually received instructions from Madrid but is delaying action by posing questions to Jordana such as eventual disposition of Mendoubia now occupied by German Consul and future representation of German interests here. It is apparent that Orgaz will not act unless forced to do so and Castillo feels he will take action only on Franco's 6 direct orders. In order to keep this question alive and to stress importance of execution this phase of agreement I shall ask for an appointment to see Orgaz toward end of week if Department has no objection. Sent to Department, repeated to Madrid and Algiers. ELBRICK 711.52/464: Telegram The Chargé in Spain (Butterworth) to the Secretary of State MADRID, May 10, 1944-5 p. m. [Received May 11-6:40 a. m.] 1616. Embassy's 1568 of May 6, 4 p. m. In the course of a conversation yesterday the Under Secretary of the Foreign Office referred to the statement made by Jordana to the Ambassador and said that there was no question but that the closing of the German Consulate General in Tangier would be accomplished within a reasonable time and he recited the steps that had been taken by the Spanish Government with the German Government both in Madrid and Berlin. It seemed evident that Jordana is taking the obvious course of attempting to effect the closing of the German Consulate General by order 68 Not printed. 89 Generalissimo Francisco Franco, Spanish Chief of State. direct from Berlin or through the German Embassy in Madrid before resorting to more forceful methods in Tangier. There is very good reason to believe that regardless of Castillo's statement quoted in Tangier's 107, May 8, 7 p. m., that Orgaz has, as he so stated, not yet received instructions from Madrid except possibly as regards the Japanese Assistant Military Attaché. Therefore as regards the last sentence of Tangier's telegram under reference my own feeling is that since we have made an agreement approved by the Council of Ministers and Franco we should avoid being drawn into subsidiary negotiations and hold the Spanish Government here responsible for implementing appropriately its undertakings. Repeated to Tangier and Algiers. BUTTERWORTH 711.52/463: Telegram The Chargé at Tangier (Elbrick) to the Secretary of State TANGIER, May 10, 1944–7 p. m. [Received 8:24 p. m.] 110. Legation's 107, May 8. In discussing Madrid settlement today with Castillo, he again intimated that Orgaz would act only on direct orders from Franco. He said he, Castillo, had sent an officer of the Spanish Consulate on May 8 to German Consulate and Japanese Military Attaché to notify them orally that they must leave. He expects the Japanese will leave within very few days but Germans state they will take no action without instructions from Berlin. I said it is imperative that German Consulate be closed at once even though departure of personnel may be delayed. He agreed accord should be implemented at once but feels Orgaz will delay action as long as possible. I have requested interview with Orgaz which will take place possibly on Friday. British Foreign Office has instructed British Embassy, Madrid, to insist strongly that Jordana send necessary instructions to Orgaz to insure departure of Germans and closing of Consulate in immediate future. Repeated Madrid and Algiers for Murphy. ELBRICK 711.52/458: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Hayes) WASHINGTON, May 10, 1944-midnight. 1317. Situation reported in Tangier's 107, May 8, 7 p. m. is seriously disturbing. Unless prompt measures are taken by Spanish Govern ment effectively to carry out agreement in regard to expulsion of Germans, Department will be compelled to consider withdrawing its authorization of petroleum loadings for Spain. Repeat to Tangier and Algiers. HULL 711.52/458: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Chargé at Tangier (Elbrick) WASHINGTON, May 11, 1944-7 p. m. 64. Although the Department is taking up with Madrid the subject matter of your telegram No. 107, May 8, 7 p. m., no objection is perceived to your seeing Orgaz. HULL 711.52/468: Telegram The Chargé at Tangier (Elbrick) to the Secretary of State TANGIER, May 12, 1944-7 p. m. [Received 9:17 p. m.] 113. Legation's 107, May 9 [8]. In my interview with Orgaz today he was as uncommunicative and seemingly as uncooperative as he had been with Gascoigne earlier in the week. Orgaz stated no instructions had been received from Madrid and that he could not undertake any action. The accord had been signed by Spanish Government, he said, and would be implemented in due course and he would carry out his instructions with diligence. He said however that proposed expulsion of German Consuls here involved official personnel of German Government and he would see that they were treated with courtesy and respect in connection with their departure. He gave me to understand that he had no knowledge of any instructions from Berlin to Consulate here although Castillo had informed him along lines of my 111, May 11.70 Prior to interview Castillo had told me that Orgaz had warned him last night to say nothing to anyone about orders issued by Berlin to German Consulate here. Castillo said he thought this attitude was a further indication of Orgaz' reluctance to see accord implemented. British Consul General and I are under impression that Orgaz is prepared to delay execution of agreement as long as possible. Repeated to Madrid, Algiers for Murphy. 70 Not printed. ELBRICK 711.52/464: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Spain (Butterworth) WASHINGTON, May 15, 1944-8 p. m. 1365. Your 1616, May 10, 5 p. m. For your information our press, which generally received the wolfram agreement 71 very favorably, is already commenting on tardiness in closing German Consulate General in Tangier and expressing skepticism as to Spain's fulfilment of agreement. Spanish Government should recognize importance of proceeding rapidly in order to make most of improved atmosphere. HULL 702.6281/92: Telegram The Chargé at Tangier (Elbrick) to the Secretary of State TANGIER, May 17, 1944-3 p. m. [Received May 17-11:20 a. m.] 122. Legation's 115, May 13.2 Shield of German Consulate was removed last night. Uriarte phoned this morning to tell me of this development and to assure me entire matter will be liquidated shortly. Castillo informed Gascoigne later that Consulate is no longer open for business and that Germans will cease sending cypher telegrams tomorrow night. Repeated to Algiers as our 33, repeated to Madrid as our 56, May 17, 3 p. m. ELBRICK 702.6281/101: Telegram The Chargé at Tangier (Childs) to the Secretary of State TANGIER, May 22, 1944- 1 p. m. [Received 2:08 p. m.] 132. Legation's 120, May 16.72 Orgaz has now replied to Legation's note of May 18 requesting expulsion of German agents from Spanish North Africa (see paragraph 6, section 1, Madrid's 2430, May 478). He states he likewise is interested in execution of Madrid agreement and that necessary measures have been taken for departure from zone of Germans in question. He has ordered brief investigations of these "The agreement between the United States and Spain, concluded May 2, 1944, contained certain provisions concerning wolfram; for text, see exchange of letters between the Ambassador in Spain and the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, vol. IV, first section under Spain. 72 Not printed. 73 Printed in vol. IV, first section under Spain. |