352.1121 Fernandez, Antonio/74: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Seville (Bay)
Your 17th, Antonio Fernandez Villa. Please impress on General Queipo de Llano that files this Government conclusively show that Fernandez was naturalized as American citizen on February 1, 1926, and that his wife, Salvadora, was naturalized on September 13, 1928; that the Department has no evidence indicating that either of them has ever relinquished American citizenship; that it would appear Fernandez and his wife lost Spanish citizenship under provisions Article 20 of Chapter 1 of the Civil Laws of 1889 by their naturalization in the United States; that careful investigation which Fisher has conducted in Mallorca indicates that they did not reacquire Spanish citizenship under provisions of Article 21 or otherwise and that it is considered view of this Government that they should be treated as citizens of United States. Passports of this Government may be issued to them for return to United States upon their release. In view of above information we trust that General Franco will now be [Page 540] disposed to authorize release of Fernandez and wife subject to their leaving Palma at once in charge of our consular representative.