Post by Diarist on Jun 17, 2017 8:51:07 GMT 1
Today we had an early lunch with members of the Spanish government and Niceto Alcalá-Zamora y Torres the Spanish President. There was considerable disarray in Madrid following the controversial dissolution of the Cortes last month. Manuel Portela is a caretaker PM. Today's discussion will be with a different audience to that of yesterday evening. The Spanish hosts naturally presumed that King Edward would be the senior British speaker so I used the opportunity to visit the Spanish Defence Ministry with General Franco. We spent most of the time discussing TRADOC and what a Spanish delegation would do there. When the conversation turned to the talks in Paris I told them that the main agenda had been about a non-aggression treaty and the withdrawal of French troops from the Rhineland.
When General Franco and I were alone I brought up our conversation we had in London last month. I assured him that Britain would find some way to help the legitimate Spanish government if the Popular Front were to reject the election results. Ideally today's Spain should announce its desire to become an associate member of the non-aggression group north of the border. It's also another reason to send personnel to TRADOC so that joint plans can be made. I warned that it would be difficult to support him if the Spanish right were to reject a Popular Front victory.
Later in the afternoon our delegation flew to Valencia with Capitán de Navío Francisco Moreno Fernández on board. He is currently the Director of the Escuela de Guerra Naval and will join us on HMS Rodney.
When General Franco and I were alone I brought up our conversation we had in London last month. I assured him that Britain would find some way to help the legitimate Spanish government if the Popular Front were to reject the election results. Ideally today's Spain should announce its desire to become an associate member of the non-aggression group north of the border. It's also another reason to send personnel to TRADOC so that joint plans can be made. I warned that it would be difficult to support him if the Spanish right were to reject a Popular Front victory.
Later in the afternoon our delegation flew to Valencia with Capitán de Navío Francisco Moreno Fernández on board. He is currently the Director of the Escuela de Guerra Naval and will join us on HMS Rodney.