852.00/5509: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 24—3:15 p.m.]
159. Members of the Spanish delegation tell me that they intend to proceed with the presentation of their case to the Council substantially along the lines described in my telegram 151, May 21, 10 a.m. They admit that its chief intent is to rouse British public opinion. It is expected to come before the Council on Thursday.
The atmosphere here is observably more friendly to the Spanish delegation than it was in January which is variously taken to indicate a political attitude or a growing belief in Valencia’s ultimate success.
Members of the British delegation inform me that the British démarche for an armistice, my 155, May 22, noon, was in the form of a note transmitted to Paris, Berlin, Rome, Moscow, Brussels, and Lisbon. They characterize the effort as “finished”. They say, nevertheless, that it will serve the purpose of giving Eden91 and Delbos something to say in response to Del Vayo. A Spanish delegate asserts to me that the Valencia position is that they will not accept an armistice in advance, that they are however entirely favorable to the removal of foreign troops and if such a removal is agreed upon they are willing to discuss any means of accomplishing it. The representative of Franco in Geneva tells me that an armistice is totally unacceptable.
However, in respect of the British démarche certain delegations here have received advices from Berlin that Germany is anxious to get her nationals out of Spain and would accept a solution provided it were sufficiently face-saving.
- Anthony Eden, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩