is to see all the barriers moved which stand in the way of
closer Anglo-Spanish relations. I had indeed been happy to observe
favourable changes in Spanish policy towards this country, which
began during the tenure of office of the late General Jordana,
and I publicly took note of these developments in the speech
which I made in the House of Commons on May 24th. Unfortunately,
as Your Excellency recognises in your letter to the Duke of Alba,
these developments have not yet gone far enough to remove all
the barriers between our two countries. While such barriers remain,
the development of really close relations of friendship, must
meet with difficulties and there can and cooperation with Spain,
which His Majesty's Government desires be no question of His
Majesty's Government supporting open claims to participation
in the eventual Peace Settlement. Nor does it seem to me likely
that an invitation would be forthcoming for the admission of
Spain to the future world organisation.
In Your Excellency's letter to the Duke of Alba there are
several references to Russia which I cannot allow to pass without
comment having regard to the relations of friendship and alliance
between this country and Russia. I should be seriously misleading
you if I did not at once remove any misconception that His Majesty's
Government are prepared to consider any grouping of powers in
Western Europe or elsewhere on a basis of hostility towards or
of the alleged necessity of defence against our Russian Allies.
The Policy of His Majesty's Government remains firmly based upon
the Anglo-Soviet Treaty of 1942 and they regard the continuance
of Anglo-Russian collaboration within the framework of future
world organisation as essential not only to their own interests,
but also to the future peace and prosperity of Europe as a whole.
I would