I have recently accessed a file held in the Australian War Memorial, AWM
124 4/124, from the office of the Australian Chief of the Naval Staff on
Spanish diplomacy. It was de-classified in Oct 1990. Two significant
folios are transcribed.
DECYPHER FROM SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DOMINION AFFAIRS, LONDON.
Dated 5th February, 1941 Recd 6th February, 1941.
CIRCULAR TELEGRAM D. 55
S E C R E T
SPAIN.
Following for the Prime Minister.
The Spanish Chief of General staff has informed His Majesty’s Minister
in Madrid that Franco recently refused another German demand for entry
into the war and the passage of troops: That the generals intend to
impress upon Franco that that if the Germans invade Spain, Spain must
fight and ask for British help: and that the Generals at present wish to
avoid internal crisis such as would be caused, e.g. by an attempt to
remove Suner since this would cause bloodshed and provide pretext for
German intervention.
Decipher from – THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DOMINION AFFAIRS,LONDON
Dated 26th March, 1941. 10.25 p.m. Recd. 27th March, 1941.
Circular D. 162.
SECRET. Following for Prime Minister.
SPAIN
Following prolonged procrastination by the Spanish Minister for
Foreign Affairs, largely due to German pressure, the Spanish Minister of
Commerce informed is Majesty’s Ambassador at Madrid on 25th March that
the Minister for Foreign Affairs was ready to sign agreement with us
providing for loan of 2½ million pounds to the Spanish Government. This
agreement is supplementary to the loan agreement of 18th March, 1940.
We recently concluded agreement with the Spanish Government for
supply to us of 12000 flasks of mercury. In view of the violent German
reaction to this deal, Senor Suner has represented that he cannot sign
the loan agreement if public reference is made to the mercury.
Perhaps the bribes had been successful in altering the views of the
generals, perhaps they had thought that way all along. The loan
agreement mentioned appears to be above board. WSC states “Up until
November 1940 we had paid [the US] for everything we had received. [The
period] between November 1940 and passage of Lend-Lease [11 March 1941]
was marked by acute stringency in [US] dollars.” Were currencies other
than US dollars available for loans and the purchase of strategic
materials from other neutral countries?
Ramón Serrano Suñer was a leading pro-Nazi and was Foreign Minister
during this period.
Franco’s contribution to the Axis cause was the Blue Division of Spanish
volunteers which departed Spain on 13 July 1941 to the eastern front to
fight Bolshevism. A token remnant was withdrawn in March 1944.
Other folios on this file discuss “proposed Anglo-American help to
Spain” negotiated between Sir Samuel Hoare, Salazar in Portugal, and
with Colonel [Wild Bill] Donovan involved for the US.
I am not all that familiar with the role of neutral countries during the
war but I don’t believe that the content of the Cablegrams quoted are in
accordance with established wisdom. I have found them very interesting
and would others care to comment?
Neil Coates
65 East Derwent Highway
Rose Bay
Tasmania
Australia 7015
+ 61 3 6243 9252
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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