352.1121 Patriarca, Vincent J./17: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Third Secretary of Embassy in Spain (Wendelin)
156. Your X–196, October 8, 6 p.m., and X–200, October 9, 2 p.m.62 Public interest in the case of Patriarca is becoming constantly more widespread and we are in receipt of increasingly urgent appeals in his behalf. You are instructed, therefore, in addition to the steps which you have already taken to bring the case of Patriarca to the attention of Largo Caballero in his capacity as Prime Minister and [Page 736] Minister of War and to request from him assurances that Patriarca will not be executed. You may inform the Prime Minister that the American public shares your government’s understanding that the internationally recognized laws of war do not sanction the execution of prisoners and that if Patriarca were executed there can be no doubt that there would be a widespread hostile reaction among the American people who have so far been well disposed toward his government.
We have just received a telegram from a “Committee of One Thousand Mothers” organized to save Patriarca’s life urging that an effort be made “to have him removed to neutral territory at once and that he be there incarcerated until decision and determination be made in the matter.” You may, if you perceive no objection, cite this appeal to the Prime Minister as illustrative of American public sentiment.
- Neither printed. Vincent J. Patriarca was a native-born American citizen captured while serving as an aviator with the Spanish insurgent forces. There were reports that he might be executed because of the feeling aroused by alleged killing of Spanish Government pilots when captured by the insurgents.↩