Office of the Historian

881.00/9–245: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State

Paris, September 2, 1945—2 p.m.
[Received 4:57 p.m.]

5284. [From Villard.] Now that Tangier Conference has been concluded it may be useful to comment briefly on Soviet participation therein. It seems clear that Soviet interest was motivated principally by:

(1)
Desire to make use of this opportunity to hit at Franco Spain; and
(2)
Possibility of establishing a naval vantage point in Straits of Gibraltar.

Soviet delegation displayed only an academic knowledge of provisions of Tangier Statute or of background of international regime and was not even aware of existence of Cape Spartel Lighthouse Convention. Discussion by Soviets was centered almost entirely on questions affecting Spanish inclusion either in provisional regime or in forthcoming final conference and it was evident at all times that political problem of Spain was uppermost in mind of delegation. As explained to me privately by Kozyrev, chief of Soviet delegation, memory of Blue Division84 was still so fresh that it influenced all thinking of his Government in regard to General Franco.

Presence of a naval officer on Soviet delegation and persistent attempt to obtain agreement on stationing of war vessels to patrol Tangier Zone seemed indicative of an interest in Mediterranean and Atlantic waters which went considerably beyond needs of present situation. Altho Soviet proposal was defeated by lack of support from other delegations it is likely that the USSR will again raise this question at conference to determine final status of Tangier.

While general considerations of prestige were doubtless a factor in Soviet participation in Conference they were probably of less importance than foregoing motives.

Members of Soviet delegation were most cooperative and friendly throughout Conference and showed a real disposition to work out the various problems in a spirit of conciliation and cooperation. So marked was this attitude that it seemed to us Russians had received instructions to meet viewpoints of other delegations wherever possible even on treatment of Spanish question.

Sent Department 5284; repeated Tangier 57, London 644, Madrid 340, Moscow 312. [Villard.]

Caffery
  1. A contingent of Spanish volunteers who fought with the German Army on the Russian front.↩