CHAPTER II. GERMAN RECOGNITION OF THE FRANCO REGIME, AND ITS RESULTS; NOVEMBER 18, 1936-MARCH 20, 1937-Continued Date and Subject Page Doc. No. 1937 Jan. 6 184 Note from the British Embassy 203 Taking "the gravest view" of the continued flow of volunteers to Spain, the British Government requests an early reply to its note of December 26. Memorandum by the Director of the Legal Department 204 Gaus told the British Ambassador that the new British note The Chargé d'Affaires in Great Britain to the Foreign Ministry The military situation has improved with the arrival of 205 206 The American ban on the export of arms to Spain has been ineffective. The Chargé d'Affaires in the United States to the Foreign Minis- 208 Jan. 7 189 210 Memorandum by the Director of the Legal Department Magistrati stated that Ciano frankly told the British Ambassador that Italian volunteers, who were going to Spain without pressure from the Government, would not be halted unless all countries took similar action. Memorandum to the British Embassy While questioning the motives of the British and French Governments and protesting against the pressure applied to Germany, the German Government consents to the ban on volunteers proposed in the note of December 26, provided effective guaranties are given. The Ambassador in France to the Foreign Minister Because of his long experience in Spain, Welczeck is accepted The Chargé d'Affaires in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The Ambassador in France to the Head of the Extra-European Note from the British Embassy England proposes that each power take measures to ban volunteering for Spain, in advance of the control measures to be elaborated in the London committee. 210 212 214 215 216 CHAPTER II. GERMAN RECOGNITION OF THE FRANCO REGIME, AND ITS RESULTS; NOVEMBER 18, 1936-MARCH 20, 1937—Continued Date and Doc. No. 1937 Subject Page Jan. 11 195 Memorandum by the Foreign Minister 218 Neurath acceded to the French Ambassador's wish to publish the Führer's statement to him that Germany had no designs on Spanish Morocco. 219 Jan. 12 196 Jan. 12 197 Jan. 13 198 Jan. 13 199 Jan. 13 200 Jan. 14 201 Jan. 14 202 Jan. 15 203 Jan. 15 204 Jan. 15 205 The Chargé d'Affaires in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The Foreign Minister to the Embassy in Italy Germany will accept the British proposal that each power act separately to ban volunteers, provided that all states do so on the same terms and that there is no delay in the introduction of collective control measures. The Ambassador in Italy to the Foreign Ministry Ciano has told England that Italy would not take separate A large body of Italian troops with heavy equipment has Memorandum by the Foreign Minister Neurath told Attolico that Germany had agreed to the plan for controlling volunteers because she did not wish to send more troops to Spain and run the risk of a European war. The Chargé d'Affaires in France to the Foreign Ministry While it is the concern of French policy to show Germany that no more faits accomplis will be accepted, responsible men feel that the press threats over Spanish Morocco went too far. The Foreign Minister to the Embassy in Italy Franco's intention to reject a control system will compromise Germany and Italy; it would be better if he accepted in principle and then imposed delaying conditions. Memorandum of the Dienststelle Ribbentrop Weizsäcker is reported to have said that the Spanish enterprise will be abandoned, but an intimate of Göring reported that the latter in his Rome talks stated that Germany would not tolerate a Red Spain. The Ambassador in Italy to the Foreign Ministry It was agreed in Göring's Rome talks that a final effort to The Director of the Political Department to the Embassy in Spain 220 221 222 222 223 225 225 226 227 CHAPTER II. GERMAN RECOGNITION OF THE FRANCO REGIME, AND ITS RESULTS; NOVEMBER 18, 1936-MARCH 20, 1937-Continued Date and Doc. No. 1937 Subject Page Jan. 16 206 The Director of the Economic Policy Department to the Embassy 228 Jan. 18 207 Jan. 20 208 Jan. 25 209 Jan. 25 210 Jan. 26 211 Jan. 26 212 Jan. 26 213 Discussion of a political agreement with Spain is not desired The Chargé d'Affaires in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The Chargé d'Affaires in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The Nationalist Government rejected a British plan for division of Rio Tinto output and retains full freedom of action; Hisma has been promised 60 percent. Editors' Note The understanding on Spanish policy arranged in Göring's The Chargé d'Affaires in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The Chargé d'Affaires in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The Nationalist reply to the German-Italian memorandum presents a list of arms required, chiefly from Germany, which exceeds those promised in the memorandum. The Chargé d'Affaires in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The text of the Nationalist reply to the German-Italian mem- The Foreign Minister to the Embassy in Great Britain Memorandum by an Official of Political Division I A misunderstanding has arisen over the demand put to Franco by Bernhardt of Hisma that Spain apply all available foreign exchange to payment on the arms delivered by Ger many. Jan. 27 214 229 230 230 231 231 232 233 The Chargé d'Affaires in Spain to the Foreign Ministry 236 The Foreign Minister to the Embassy in Spain 237 Jan. 28 215 Jan. 30 216 Germany and Italy are in full agreement on supporting an effective control plan, though not within Spain; Franco's negative reply was a surprise after the advice Italy gave him. The Chargé d'Affaires in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The Nationalist Government denies that it rejected the control plan entirely; it is evident that its reply was framed in the knowledge that continuing arms aid would be necessary. 238 CHAPTER II. GERMAN RECOGNITION OF THE FRANCO REGIME, AND ITS RESULTS; NOVEMBER 18, 1936-MARCH 20, 1937-Continued Date and Doc. No. 1937 Feb. 2 217 The Acting State Secretary to the Legation in Portugal 238 240 Feb. 4 218 Feb. 6 219 Feb. 8 220 Feb. 21 221 Feb. 23 222 Feb. 23 223 Feb. 27 224 Mar. 2 225 Mar. 4 226 Mar. 5 227 Memorandum by an Official of the Economic Policy Department The Acting State Secretary to the Embassy in Great Britain The German position in the London committee will be to insist on simultaneous implementation of control plans for land and sea traffic to Spain, since closing of the Pyrenees frontier is essential. The Ambassador in Italy to the Foreign Ministry Ciano is optimistic about the military prospects in Spain after the success at Málaga with only nine Italian battalions; Italy will support the control plans in London, but the earlier proposal for withdrawal of all non-Spaniards must be evaded. The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry Franco reported an offer by France to take up commercial relations but said he had refused; Faupel urged that the return of Spanish gold now in France be made a condition in reply to any future overtures. 241 242 243 The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry 244 Franco insisted on the necessity of all promised matériel arriving by March 6. 245 Memorandum by an Official of the Economic Policy Department The Chargé d'Affaires in Great Britain to the Foreign Ministry zone. The Chargé d'Affaires in Great Britain to the Foreign Ministry The Foreign Minister to the Embassy in Great Britain The Italian representative is to be allowed to take the lead in delaying plans for withdrawal of volunteers; also, practical difficulties will be relied on to prevent a "premature solution." The Ambassador in Italy to the Foreign Ministry Ciano implied concern over the role of the German representative on the London committee and asked that he be instructed to sabotage the plans on volunteers; he said England's main concern was to get Italian troops out after the war ended. 247 248 249 250 CHAPTER II. GERMAN RECOGNITION OF THE FRANCO REGIME, AND ITS RESULTS; NOVEMBER 18, 1936-MARCH 20, 1937-Continued Date and Subject Page Doc. No. 1937 Mar. 6 228 The Acting State Secretary to the Embassy in Great Britain 251 Mar. 10 229 The Ambassador in Italy to the Foreign Ministry 251 Mar. 17 230 Mar. 17 231 Mar. 18 232 Mar. 20 233 Ciano expressed satisfaction with the military situation in Ciano showed concern over the strong Red resistance and the Minute by the Director of the Economic Policy Department The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry Mussolini is quoted as saying that Italy would abide by a ban on volunteers but, if there were violations, would send 100 Italians for every man reaching the Red side. Memorandum by the Foreign Minister Neurath told the British Ambassador that Germany would proceed with the discussions on volunteers only if the Russians would agree to discuss the question of the Spanish gold. 252 252 254 254 CHAPTER III. GERMAN-NATIONALIST TIES STRENGTHENED; THe March and JULY PROTOCOLS: MARCH 20-JULY 16, 1937 1937 Mar. 20 234 Mar. 25 235 Mar. 25 236 Mar. 27 237 Protocol Signed at Salamanca March 20, 1937 By secret agreement "guiding principles" are laid down for future German-Spanish relations: cooperation against Communism; no agreements with or aid to a third power directed against one of the parties; intensification of economic relations. The Ambassador in France to the Foreign Ministry Delbos warned that France would not tolerate the flagrant Italian violations of the non-intervention agreement; Italy would not be allowed to determine the fate of Spain in disregard of France. The Ambassador in Italy to the Foreign Ministry Mussolini was greatly agitated over the Italian reverse at Guadalajara but insisted it was of no military consequence; he would send no more troops, and the Spaniards would have to do their share in the future. The Ambassador in Italy to the Foreign Ministry Grandi exceeded his instructions in the London committee in stating Italian volunteers would remain in Spain; Italy will not flatly oppose withdrawal but wants a delay until the setback at Guadalajara has been made good. 256 257 258 260 |