852.00/6445
The Ambassador in Spain (Bowers), Then in France, to the Secretary of State
[Received September 11.]
Sir: I have the honor to report, in amplification of my telegram No. 344, August 30, 1 p.m.99 that during the course of a conversation with the Governor’s office in Gijon between Mr. Chapman and the secretary of the Governor, the latter observed that “it is inhuman that foreign nations refuse to take out our women and children while not protesting against their slaughter by rebel planes from the air.” This was pointed enough and under the circumstances was apparently applied to us, since there was a natural desire of the officials to save their own families. These words were spoken immediately after a bombing and when the speaker was highly excited. It seemed certain to me that should we be in Gijon at a time when the insurgents approached the city a determined effort would be made by the officials to have us take them on the Kane.
Our policy of aloofness from the contest has been pronounced absolutely and honestly neutral by all the responsible leaders on both sides. But the insane hatred, the mad-dog spirit of the rank and file on both sides makes a reasonable interpretation of any action by any one practically impossible.
On the insurgent side it is admitted that we have been honest and consistent in our policy. But in last Sunday’s Domingo, a weekly paper, published in San Sebastian I find the first expression of open [Page 547] criticism of our policy of not giving away, or selling, fake passports, and of not converting our Embassy into a hiding place for Spaniards partisan in the war.
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I am convinced that deep down, both sides have a respect for us that they only pretend for others who have indulged in this questionable work, and certainly more respect for us than for those who “commercialized” their humanitarian activities.
These two mild criticisms persuade me however that the more we remain in the background the better we are served; and that our policy in the long run will make us more friends than the others have made.
While we are criticized for not participating in the war as so many of the others have done, we still are praised more on both sides for our honesty and consistency than is any other nation. I am sure that if we continue our policy without deviation we shall find whichever side wins ardently seeking our friendship the moment the war is over. It is glaringly true that no nation is treated with more consideration than ours. In the case of our evacuations, both the insurgents and the Government have gone the limit to protect us against incidents, and this is partly because both sides look hopefully to us for friendship at the conclusion of the war.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩