711.52/380: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Hayes)
Washington, March
16, 1944—9 p.m.
730. Your 792, March 7, 10 p.m.
- 1.
- The Department sees no value in participating in the commission of technical experts whose apparent purpose is to seek a compromise solution, in which task the Embassy’s representative would appear to have nothing to contribute. Please advise Jordana that we see no useful purpose to be gained by participating in such a commission.
- 2.
- In reading your 817, March 9, noon, 828, March 10, 10 a.m., and 866, March 11, 6 p.m.,76 the Department concludes we have reached a situation of some gravity in which Jordana, having offered a solution to which we agreed, then found himself unable to bind his own Government, and in which Carceller has held separate discussions with members of our Embassy tending to discredit the Foreign Minister’s authority and to put forward other proposals the nature of which is neither clear nor satisfactory.
- 3.
- The Department requests that you bring to Jordana’s attention the unsatisfactory state of affairs in which one Minister is seeking to work out a compromise informally, Jordana himself has conveyed his Government’s suggestion of a technical commission, presumably for the purpose of attempting another compromise solution, whereas we can find no compelling reason why any solution other than that already accepted by us is necessary for consideration.
- 4.
- For your information, the Department has received from London a cable dated March 10, 9 p.m.77 indicating that Carceller has also been discussing wolfram with members of the British Embassy. This coincidence may suggest that Carceller is inviting an overture of some kind on the theory, which he may be trying to establish, that while the Foreign Minister is helpless to effect an agreement he, Carceller, could accomplish something. The British Government has the impression that the Spanish Government wishes to supply Germany an additional 200 tons of wolfram this year, and the British Government seems to be thinking along the line of leaving the question of this additional tonnage in the second half of 1944 for later decision while insisting that no more wolfram be furnished Germany during the first half of 1944. We are told this does not represent a decision of the British Government but is merely exploratory thought.
- 5.
- It should be forcefully called to Jordana’s attention that the Spanish Government appears to be running a considerable risk in allowing German wolfram to rest at the frontier and in allowing the Germans to continue actively buying in the wolfram market so long as a solution has not been agreed upon. This constitutes a serious responsibility and appears to invite an incident capable of threatening our entire trade program. It is felt that the Spanish Government would be well advised to adopt such precautionary measures as would remove from proximity to the frontier all wolfram stocks and cause wolfram market activity to cease. You should also caution the Spanish Government against committing itself during the course of our present conversations to any other important concessions to Germany, as for example in the matter of woolen goods, olive oil, or skins.
- 6.
- As indicated by you, the wolfram situation has brought all negotiations on matters relating to our general trade program to a standstill. We think it desirable temporarily to suspend discussion on the question of fats and oils, cotton, fertilizers, and hides, as well as other Spanish requirements. We are confident that we could continue to make available to Spain the normal amount of materials she has been taking under the previous trade programs and it would be possible to increase certain of the items, such as cotton, provided, of course, that satisfactory arrangements are made to prevent reexport of such and similar products, such arrangements being considered essential by us. Moreover, it is felt that we are in a position to supply Spain with the requirements which she normally obtains from Germany, although no definite commitments can be made until we know the quantities and specifications of such requirements. If you consider it will serve a useful purpose in connection with the wolfram situation, you may advise Jordana generally along the foregoing lines pointing out, however, that no commitments will be made at this time and emphasizing that discussion of such matters must await agreement concerning wolfram.
Hull