I [Truman] suggested that we move on the question of Spain. Churchill said that his goverment had a strong distate for General Franco and his goverment. But, he said, there was more to Spanish policy than drawing rude cartoons of Franco. He revealed that Franco had written him a letter proposing that they join each other to organize the Western states against "that terrible country Rusia." With the approval of the British Cabinet, Chuchill said he had sent Franco a chilly reply and that a copy of this reply had been sent to Molotov.
Stalin said he had received a copy of the British reply to Franco.
Churchill went on to say that he saw more difficulty in Stalin's proposal, particulary in regard to the breaking off of all relations with Franco Spain. He said that he was against interfiering in the affairs of a country which had not molested the Allies and believed it was a dangerous principe to break off relation because of Spain's internal conduct. He would deplore anything, he said, that might lead Spain back into civil war. He pointed out that the UN Charter had a provision against interference in the domestics affairs of a nation, and that it would be inconsistent, while preparing ro ratiy that Charter, to resort to action that would be prohibited under it.
I made it clear that I had no love for Franco and also that I had no desire to have any part in starting another civil war in Spain. There had been enough wars in Europe. I said that I would be happy to recognize another goverment in Spain but that I though Spain itself must settle that question.
Stalin said that this was no internal affair, because the Franco regime had been imposed on the Spanish people by Hitler and Mussolini. He said he believed that his colleagues had no love for Franco and that he did not propose to renew civil war in Spain either. If breaking relations was too sever a demostration, he asked if there were not some other more flexible means by which the Big Three [Rusia, USA y UK] could let the Spanish people know that the three goverments were in sypmathy with the people of Spain and not Franco. He said it was presumed that the Big Three could settle such questions and taht we could not pass by this cancer in Europe. If we remained silet, he warned, it might be considered that we sanctioned Franco.
Churcill reitared his opposition to breaking relaitons. He referred to the valuable trade relations which Britain maintained with Spain. Unless he were convinced, he said, that breaking relations would bring about the desired result, he did not want this old and well-established trade with Spain stopped. He fully understood the feeling of Marshal Stalin, he said, when Franco had had the audacity to send a Spanish Blue Division to Russia. Russia was in different position, he admitted, because she had been molested. He pointed out that Spaniards had refrained from taking actions against the British at a time when such intervention could have been disastrous. During the Toch operation, he said, merely opening fire on the ships in the area of Gribaltar would have done the British great harm. But the Spaniards would have been dome if they had dared to take such action against the Allies.
Stalin suggested that the foreing secretaries try to find some means of making it clear that the heads of the three goverment were not in favor of the Franco regime.
I agreed with this suggestion, but Churchill wanted the matter settled by the heads of goverment.
Stalin pointed out that it would be settled by the three of us. The foreign ministers would only give it preliminary study.
Chuchill said he did not think this was advisable.
The discussion ranged ahead in seesaw fashion, with both the Premier and the Prime Minister restating their earlier arguments. I saw that there was no chance for agreement on this issue at the moment and suggested that we pass on to something else upon which we could come to a decision and that we come back to the Spanish question at a later session.
Stalin again suggested taht it be referred to the foreign ministers for their consideration. Churchill again balked on this point and insisted that the heads of state simply the leave the question without decision. I pointed out that we could return to it at any time.
, what do you think would happen, had Spain entered the war on Germany's side? 
. You brought up some very interesting 
. Good things to think over 
