CHAPTER IV. THE POWERS AND NON-INTERVENTION: JULY 19-NOVEMBER 1, Date and Doc. No. 1937-Continued Subject Page 1937 Oct. 19 444 Oct. 19 445 Oct. 19 446 Oct. 20 447 Oct. 20 448 Oct. 20 449 Oct. 21 450 Oct. 21 451 Oct. 22 452 Oct. 23 453 Oct. 24 454 The Ambassador in Italy to the Foreign Ministry The Chargé d'Affaires in Great Britain to the Foreign Ministry The Chargé d'Affaires in Great Britain to the Foreign Ministry The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The Franco Government has stated that in an extreme case it would consent to withdrawal of volunteers but only under certain conditions including full recognition as a belligerent. Minute by the Director of the Political Department The Italian Ambassador said an Italian division had been transferred from the Aragón to the Asturias front, but he knew nothing about sending another division to Spain, as Hassell had reported. Memorandum by the Foreign Minister Neurath told Ambassador Attolico a more conciliatory line The Chargé d'Affaires in Great Britain to the Foreign Ministry The Foreign Minister to the Embassy in Great Britain Russian participation in any plan for withdrawal of volun- The Chargé d'Affaires in Great Britain to the Foreign Ministry The Chargé d'Affaires in Great Britain to the Foreign Ministry It has been agreed with the Italian and Portuguese representatives that the question of Russian participation rather than details of the withdrawal scheme should be made an issue in the Non-Intervention Committee. The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry Assurances have been obtained that the consular agreement negotiated between England and Nationalist Spain was not accompanied by any new economic concessions. 468 468 470 471 472 472 472 474 474 476 478 CHAPTER IV. THE POWERS AND NON-INTERVENTION: JULY 19-NOVEMBER 1, 1937-Continued Date and Doc. No. 1937 Oct. 25 455 Oct. 25 456 Oct. 26 457 Oct. 26 458 Oct. 27 459 Oct. 28 460 Oct. 30 461 Nov. 1 462 Subject Memorandum by the Ambassador in Spain Stohrer finds the military situation favorable but no prospects of an early Franco victory; factional divisions on the White side remain a danger; the German standing in Spanish opinion is good; steps should be taken to restore the German community in Spain and give freer play to its economic activities. The Foreign Minister to the Embassy in Great Britain No obstacles should be placed in the way of a symbolical The Minister Counselor of Embassy in Great Britain to the For- Woermann rejected Eden's plea that the other powers should The Foreign Minister to the Embassy in France The attention of the French Government should be called to the fact that the renewed commitment to send no volunteers to Spain, which is under consideration in London, cannot be undertaken unless the expired French law banning volunteers is renewed. The Ambassador in Great Britain to the Foreign Ministry The Italian and German representatives having accepted the British control and volunteer-withdrawal plan of July 14, it remains to clarify the question of Russian participation; possibilities for technical delays remain open. The Foreign Minister to the Embassy in Great Britain It is not desired to bring about a collapse of non-intervention The Ambassador in Great Britain to the Foreign Ministry The Foreign Minister to the Embassy in Great Britain No pressure which would isolate Germany in the London committee is to be undertaken in an attempt to clarify the Russian attitude; if they refuse to grant belligerent rights, they should at least be denied protection of the Nyon agree ment. Editors' Note Adoption of the British control plan of July 14, 1937, in the Page 480 484 486 488 489 490 491 493 CHAPTER V. GERMAN ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON FRANCO: NOVEMBER 4, 1937MARCH 10, 1938 Date and Doc. No. 1937 Subject Page Nov. 4 463 Memorandum of the German Embassy in Spain 496 German mining interests have encountered difficulties with the Spanish authorities, who interpret the decree of October 9, 1937, as permitting only a minority interest by foreigners in such enterprises. 499 Nov. 4 464 Nov. 8 465 Nov. 9 466 Nov. 13 467 Nov. 17 468 Nov. 17 469 Nov. 25 470 Nov. 27 471 Nov. 27 472 Memorandum of the German Embassy in Spain The director of Hisma argues that every pressure must be brought to bear to overcome Spanish resistance to German acquisition of a permanent ownership interest in Spanish mines; only this result would justify the aid given to Franco. Editors' Note Hitler's views on the implications of the Spanish Civil War for German policy as stated on November 5, 1937. The State Secretary to the Embassy in Spain Franco is to be urged to respond affirmatively to the London The Foreign Ministry to Various German Diplomatic Missions In a review of recent developments in the Non-Intervention The Chargé d'Affaires in Spain to the Foreign Ministry Franco doubts whether the granting of belligerent rights will The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry Franco promised that German interests would be protected under the recent mining decree; its purpose had been to forestall a sell-out of mining rights by the Red Government. Memorandum by the State Secretary Göring, under the impression that Franco is granting rights Memorandum by the Deputy Director of the Economic Policy It was agreed with Göring's subordinates that the Ambassa- The Foreign Ministry to the Embassy in Spain To overcome skepticism concerning the general assurances given by Franco on mining rights, he is to be asked to give a binding pledge of protection for a list of concessions already held by Hisma. 503 504 507 507 508 508 511 511 CHAPTER V. GERMAN ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON FRANCO: NOVEMBER 4, 1937MARCH 10, 1938-Continued 1937 Nov. 27 473 Nov. 30 474 Nov. 30 475 Dec. 3 476 Dec. 3 477 Dec. 3 478 Dec. 3 479 Dec. 4 480 The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The increasing number of recognitions extended to National- Memorandum by the Director of the Economic Policy Department The Foreign Minister to the Embassy in Spain Franco's concessions to England appear to exceed those he has admitted; he is to be told that unless guaranties are given for certain vital economic interests Germany will reconsider her policy. The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry Informal negotiations between the Spanish parties for ending the Civil War have broken down because of Franco's demand for unconditional surrender; they explain the delay in military operations. The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry Conduct of Italians both at and behind the front has given the Spaniards "their fill of the entire Italian military aid"; the reputation of the Germans for soldierly conduct remains good. The State Secretary to the State Secretary in the Office of the Commissioner for the Four Year Plan In response to the query of the German Ambassador, Franco has stated emphatically that all reports of economic concessions by him to England are "pure fabrications." The State Secretary to the Ambassador in Spain Mackensen gives Stohrer an account of Göring's suspicions of Franco's dealings with England which led to the instruction that Franco be asked to give assurances on German economic interests. The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry Franco appeared entirely sincere in his denial that economic concessions had been made to England; he promised friendly consideration for the list of mining concessions demanded by Germany. Dec. 10 481 Dec. 13 482 Page 512 516 518 519 521 522 522 524 The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry 525 525 Dec. 16 483 Although mutual trust has been the rule followed hitherto, 527 The Italian Ambassador stated that concern was also felt in CHAPTER V. GERMAN ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON FRANCO: NOVEMBER 4, 1937MARCH 10, 1938-Continued Date and Doc. No. 1937 Dec. 16 484 Subject Memorandum by the Ambassador in Spain The demand for approval of 73 mining concessions listed by Page 527 Dec. 18 485 The Director of the Political Department to the Embassy in Italy 529 Dec. 18 486 Dec. 19 487 Dec. 19 488 Dec. 20 489 The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The Spanish attitude appears cooperative, but legal delays continue to interfere with granting of approval for German mining rights; no special pressure is recommended for the present. The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry Spanish business interests have made known their desire for a freeing of German-Spanish trade from the Hisma monopoly; the alternative for Spanish enterprise would be to turn to other countries. The Ambassador in Spain to the Foreign Ministry The Duke of Alba, Spanish Nationalist representative in London, is working for closer ties with England and a lessening of German and Italian influence in Spain. The Ambassador in Italy to the Foreign Ministry 530 530 532 533 Ciano stated that Franco has been told that, if operations continued slow, troops would be withdrawn; under such conditions the 40,000 Italians there could not indefinitely serve a cause in which they had little interest. Memorandum by the Ambassador in Spain 534 Dec. 21 490 In a discussion with representatives of the Hisma firm of the Spanish resistance to granting German mining rights, it was decided to clarify the legal situation and to make a direct appeal to Franco. Undated Memorandum by the Ambassador in Spain 491 Dec. 22 492 Dec. 22 493 Dec. 29 494 Franco admitted annoyance at what he thought was the secret acquisition of mining rights by Hisma and insisted he was limited by Spanish law; he agreed to a conference of experts to examine the legal situation. Memorandum of the Embassy in Spain In summary, the Spanish position is that they do not deny Memorandum by an Official of the Economic Policy Department Memorandum by the State Secretary Mussolini has informed Franco that Italian troops could remain in Spain for the present, but a military decision had to be sought at an early date and a unified command must be set up. 875667-50-VOL. III 538 540 541 543 |