352.3715/31: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in Spain (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:15 a.m.]
X–533. Department’s 276, March 5, 4 p.m. The Ministry of State will consult the authorities concerned with respect to the reception into Valencia of groups of about 100 Cuban refugees and their embarkation by 7 a.m.; the Secretary General believes both can be [Page 488] arranged. The regulation as to numbers is designed to meet shortage of accommodations here and to avoid congestion on Madrid Road.
The British Chargé d’Affaires informed me yesterday that they have had some difficulties when evacuating Cubans as a result of the liberal attitude of the Cuban Embassy in regard to the issuance of Cuban citizenship documents. I immediately talked again with the representative of the Cuban Embassy, pointing out our policy with respect to the evacuation of Spaniards. He assured me that the approximately 200 Cubans whose evacuation by us is requested hold bona fide documents. He added, however, that Cuban laws do contain liberal provisions as to the scope of Cuban citizenship. During my conversation last evening with the Secretary General of the Ministry of State, it was apparent that he also entertained doubts on this point. I informed him that we had notified the Cuban representatives that we cannot undertake to evacuate Spanish refugees, although we will consider the possibility of evacuating Cubans. Should we agree to take out the Cuban refugees we would of course be [obliged?] to assume the good faith of the Cuban Government with respect to the passports it has issued. I further remarked that should the examination by the Spanish authorities of these refugees prior to embarkation disclose that fraud was being attempted the issue would be between the Spanish and Cuban Governments as we would have no responsibility.
The Department may consider it to be advisable to discuss the matter with the Cuban Government to the end that we may be spared any embarrassment should we undertake to evacuate Cuban refugees.