852.6363/984: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Hayes)
1721. Your 2035, August 5, 1 p.m. Department, in its 1017, May 6, 10 a.m. stated that it would be better not to tie in question of aviation [Page 704] gas with that of landing rights. In paragraph 5 of Department’s 1411, June 26, 3 p.m., it is stated that the Joint Chiefs of Staff considered the landing rights of sufficient importance to utilize, if necessary, the supply of aviation gas as a bargaining weapon. However, the Department continues to feel that every effort should be made to keep the issues separate. The Department has observed no Spanish inclination to associate the two matters and has confidence in your ability to secure landing rights separately. Before conveying the substance of the above to the British Ambassador, however, please advise the Department of the circumstances leading to your proposal.
For your strictly confidential information, the Department would prefer to see the British apply for their own commercial landing rights in Spain on a basis separate and apart from the action we take in this matter.