STATEMENTS OF JOSE MARIA GIL ROBLES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R001000390005-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 12, 1999
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 23, 1947
• Content Type: IR

Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP Ru~i~v OOAO,A~g7
35757 INTELLEGENCE AN
L
CENTRAL INTEL[ GECE GROUP
INTELLIGENC, REPORT
COUNTRY Spain
SUBJECT Statements of Jose Maria Oil Robles
25X1A6a
25X1 X6
DATE: 25X1A6a
INFO. -
DIST. 23 October 1947
PAGES 2
SUPPLEMENT
1. Jose Maria Gil Robles arrived in Pas s on 20 October 1941 after having spent
six days in London. where he had see ra.l meetings with Indalecio Prieto and
Foreign Minister Bovin. Reportedly4 Gil Robles' visit to London was made with
the knowledge only of the Foreign 0'-" Ice, and his visit to Paris likewise was
secret. He indicated that in Parts ,,e had seen only Bidault, with whom he
conferred on 20 October. and the CI' leader Juan Jose Luque Axgenti.
2. Gil Robles- told source in an interw-i. w which took place on 21 October that
mach progress had been made toward 4mplete agreement between him and Prieto.
Their remaining differences are in t:'.e matter of procedure. Prieto wants to
follow the principles laid down in t`.Ie Tripartite Note of March 1946. while
Gil Robles considers the plebiscite -.::ailed for therein impractical and
dangerous, arguing that it would pes'dt Franco to influence the outcome.
Both leaders are desirous of avoidir_; the use of force, and they are agreed
on the necessity for prompt action, loth being convinced that the continuance
of the status quo is serving the intrests of the Communists. They agree
that continued delay in ousting I?r ,r o would tend to leave the Communists
the only organization strong enoo . ~.o take over the government.
3. Gil Robles was skeptical regarding t ?_,e possibility for effective United
Nations action. He advocated coordl:..aation between the Vatican and the
democratic nations, looking toward is. request to be made by the Pope, backed
by the democracies, that Franco witk.:iraw. Oil Robles said that while Prieto
was committed in theory to a plebiscte preliminary to the setting up of a
new government, the Socialist leadoff was not opposed to giving Gil Robles'
formula a chance.
4. The monarchist leader told source that his conversation with Bidau'.*, had
followed the lines of his interview with Bevi&, and that Sidault's reaction
likewise was favorable. Regarding t"--,e degree of agreement which had been
reached between him and the leftist --1ements, Gil Robles stated that he and
Luque were in complete agreement ata(-. that the remaining differences between
him and Prieto were mainly procedure"i.
5. Gil Robles stated that on his recent visit to Rome he had had a long inter-
view with the Pope, and at the lath r' a behest with Msgr. Tardi ni , who In
in charge of extraordinary affairs i:v the Holy See Secretariat. He said
that both the Pope and Tardini had _;:.-own great interest in his views, and
he saw confirmation of thin fact in he Pope's summoning of Cardinal Sefura
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 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP82-00457RO01000390005-7
25X1A2g
CENTRAL I Y TELL' GF,NCE GROUP
6. When source inquired concerning t.:y nature of the coalition government to
follow the ouster of Prenco, Oil Robles replied that he was opposed to a
coalition government because it w',1ld be heterogeneous and therefore weak,
Asked how far he on the one hand rid Luque and Prieto on the other had gone
in agreeing on the set-up of the I'-xw"ure government, Oil Robles replied that
the government would be given dem: vatic composition as soon as Spanish
con 1tions permitted, He continual that Don Juan had gone on record to this
effect and had promised immediate restoration of civil rights. He emphasized
that the Pretender intended to take strong action to combat Communism,
?, Gil Robles said that if he were a cad about meetings with Prieto and Luque,
he would eprassly deny that any e:aah meetings had taken place.
8. According to source, Gil Robles wc., to return to Estoril on 21 October.
25X1X Coment: The above rep-yrt is presented for the interest it may
have as coming directly from Gil Robles, although it contains little
concrete information that has no been published in the press,
REFERENCE CtiYIER IIBRGkYI
Sanitized - Approved For Release: CIA-RDP82-00457R00 5-7