352.0022/74: Telegram
The Chargé in Chile (Frost) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:11 p.m.]
123. Referring to the Department’s telegram No. 94, of June 20, 7 p.m., the Foreign Minister last evening summoned the Chiefs of Mission representing all American Republics and in impressive round table assembly made a brief statement, and caused to be read aloud a lengthy report from the Chilean Chargé at Madrid, respecting the intransigeant and truculent attitude of the Spanish Foreign Office on the question of the political refugees now under asylum in the Chilean Embassy there. He then handed us an extensive printed memorandum summarizing the facts and principles as seen by Chile and also the following suggestions (verbatim translation):
“The American Governments should give telegraphic instructions to their diplomatic representatives in Spain that they jointly manifest directly to General Franco the pleasure with which they would view the granting by the Burgos government of safe conducts with the guaranties necessary for leaving the country to those persons who are at present in the Chilean Embassy at Madrid and who sought refuge there by virtue of an eminently American principle, that of political asylum. The American Governments should express their confidence that the Burgos government will wish to solve in this manner its controversy with Chile, as a demonstration of its desire to maintain the ties of traditional friendship which have ever united Spain and the American countries.”
After listening to Senor Ortega’s remarks and the reading of the report of the Chilean Chargé d’Affaires, and after receiving the two memoranda above mentioned, the four senior Ambassadors present spoke briefly but with great gravity promising to urge the acceptance by their governments of the suggestions in view of the importance and [Page 785] sacredness of the principle involved. As the meeting adjourned many of the other diplomatic representatives gave similar informal assurances to the Foreign Minister.
Comment: It would appear that Chile is likely to be successful in securing this joint protest at Madrid, and that attitude in the matter is commanding solid support; so that the Franco government will find its relations with all of Latin America compromised unless it makes an early adjustment.
The Assistant Chief of the Diplomatic Section emphasized to me privately that in view of fact that all of the Latin American nations are acting in accord his Ministry has felt that the American Government should be consulted and informed, since Chile and the other Governments should not wish to seem to leave us on the outside. The Foreign Minister informed me that he quite comprehends the attitude of the United States, and highly appreciates the instructions already given to the American Ambassador to Spain. I understand 10 days or more are likely to elapse before arrangements can be completed for the formal protest to General Franco.