fp May 12, l$k$ Colonel 'Ihe Air Air War Maxwell Maxwell Kenneth H. Gibson University College Air Force Base Field, Alabama Dear Colonel Gibson. Your letter of March 2nd reached me on my return to Mexico City this last Sunday. harly in February 1 found that X had to make a trip to London and Brussels on business of my Company and as I knew 1 would have to be away some weeks Marlon went with me. ihe trip was prolonged more than X had anticipated and ran into thirteen weeks. I had hoped to be able to see something of Europe during the trip but my work kept me so occupied that X had to spend all my tine in London and joruasels. Marion was able to spend some daya in furls and joined me on the ship at Le Havre. From the point of view of ay business the trip was very satisfactory. X wish that X could give you some of my observations on what X saw and heard but the ground X covered was so restricted that I am afraid my first hand observations would cover only a very limited field. X may say, nowever, that X think the great and noble experiment which our Country is carrying through in the Marshall Flan has had very worthwhile results and what gave me as much satisfaction as anything was to learn from my friends in i&igland and Belgium that they think Franco, which X have considered the weakest point in our European amor, has turned the corner financially and economically* fhe work of my Company is progressing satisfactorily and X hope that we may carry through the financial reorganisation by the end of the year and this will imply a long and useful life for the Company and he a very good thing for the economy of Mexico. X still have to travel a great deal and go to Now York and Washington about one* a month. Jimmy Heineman la still with me but presently in New York with his wife and they are expecting their first baby. Jimmy was on the phone this morning from New York and as nervous at a kitten as ho says "the baby is four days late"i Marlon and X are both well and X do hope that you and Mrs. Gibson and the children will be able to make us a visit this year.
- 2 - May 12, 19^9 Arthur and Mary are leaving us on the 2Jrd of May to make their home in Wilmington* Delaware where Marion's alater lives. Ihey have been with ua thirty-one years and I think Mary la tired of working. 1 believe they regret to leave us as much as wa hats to see them go but I can understand their wishing to settle down in the United States. I am going to help Arturo to get settled down in Wilmington as a cabinetmaker and you know ha is a very fins one. I think ne will regret the change more than Mary ha* causa he will have to work a little harder than he has, out 1 am sure that ha can build up a nice little business* Mary had a heart attack about a month ago but the doctor says the lesion has healed. I am telling you about Arturo and rfary because you know what a fine couple they are and they had formed a very real attachment to you. I can assure you that the Hotel Messersmith is going to maks every effort to continue to supply good meals eventhough they may not be up to Mary's standard* I aai very much interested in what you tell me concerning your work at the Air University. I am not going to comment on what you tell me as this is already a longer letter than X should write ss I have a tremendous accumulation of Company correspondence before ma. I do want to say, however, that 1 hope you will get Joe Grew for one of your course lectures as ha is really one of the wisest and soundest men vs have on Far Eastern affairs* 1 saw him for a few minutes in Washington the other day at the Metropolitan Club but 1 was lunching with friends and before I could speak with him ha had left the Club* The next time 1 see him 1 shall tell him how much I enjoyed being with you at the Air University and I feel sure that he will make ah effort to respond the next time you communicate with him. while 1 was In Washington I saw my good friend Lou Johnson and had a good talk with him. We became very good friends when he was Under Secretary of War and when 1 was an Assistant Secretary in the State department and we have remained in touch with each other since* I think he will make an excellent Secretary of Defense for the Army and although ha has a background which is mostly political, he is a very sound man and a man of good Judgment and very real understanding. 1 think one Si* my good friends was asked to be Secretary of Defense for the Army but ha could not accept as ha has business obligationa which 1 think hs fssls he initiated and has to carry through. I am speaking of General Jack Franklin* Ihere is so much that 1 would like to talk over with you but I hope that before too long we may have an opportunity of talking things over here or elsewhere. 1 do want to say that 1 am presently considerably concerned over the pressure which is being brought on the U&.and on our Government, particularly the State.Department and Congress* concerning Spain.
,.3 I think you know that I have very strong views on the necessity of maintaining principle In policy. 1 think what we have done In adhering to sound major policy la the last year, and adhering to it ho matter what the difficulties and sacrifice It the most splendid page 1st our history and it has given us the respect of nations and that is something on must have to maintain policy. The firmness of our policy towards Russia is bearing good fruit whether it.will avoid war none of us know, but It is at least the one thing which may avoid war, together with the implementation of the policy in maintaining and strengthening our military forces. Because of this fundamental conviction, I am deeply disturbed when X see certain elements unwisely bring pressure to swerve ua from sound and cafe policy with respect to any country because IX wo do wo lose the respect and confidence of the nations and for us, as the leader in world affairs today, wo must have that* For some months now tremendous pressures are being brought on Congress and on the State Department as well as on the United lotions to admit Spain into the United Nations and to give nor credits and to establish full diplomatic relations. The Spanish Government is spending very great amounts of money for publicity, particularly in the United States. They have highly paid representatives in various countries and this whole campaign is costing them a great deal of money. The situation in Spain is being misrepresented for civil liberty and private property are being persecuted just OS violently as before. Until full civil liberty is restored in Spain and until the rights of property and individuals are respected adequately, our Government can do nothing towards changing its attitude towards Franco Spain or to giving credits. Just at this time a tremendous drive is on and 1 fool that recent favorable attitudes toward Spain are not the result of this publicity and propaganda and of paid workers but the results of the efforts of well intentioned persons. The Catholic Church of course has always given Its support to the Franco Government, or perhaps X should, say sore correetly the Vatican. This attitude Of the Vatican is understandable even though it may not be wise. what I*cannot understand is the attitude of men like Jim Farley for whom X have the greatest respect and who is one of my very good friends. He is intellectually and otherwise honest and is on the whole a very sound man. He is the greatest politician we have ever produced in our Country, but he is not a statesman. He does not thoroughly appreciate what it happening in Spain nor does he appreciate what the repercussions of what happens in Spain has in so many countries and what repercussions an unwise attitude by us towards Franco Spain would have. There are others who are equally good men who are bringing these pressures for a changed attitude on Spain because they do not understand the full Implications of the problem.
Col. Kenneth H. Oibson Then there is a group of people in our Country who are bringing pressures because they want to sell something to Spain and want Spain to have leans out of our taxpayers money to pay for these goods. This is paiticularly true of * group who wish to sell cotton to Spain* 1 have been told that there is certain military pressure en Congress and on the State Department to change our policy with respect to Spain because of the strategic importance of Spain e that is, Spanish territory - in case of war. There is no doubt that Spanish territory has a strategic importance but I am sure that our sound Military thinkers realise that we can n%w expect anything from a government with the record of Spain. Promises of such a government mean nothing* My own opinion is that if war comes It will have to be carried through ia «drastic wear If we are to win and that means that we must take arbitrary action* If, in case of war, we need Spanish territory we can have it easily without bargaining with Franco before hand, and if we need air fields and bases we have friendly territory around Spain where we can establish them now and with the range of modern weapons, X remain unconvinced that Spanish territory itself is so immediately important to us* I understand that some of these military pressures which are said to have existed have dimished and I sincerely hope so* Ton know what respect I have for our military leadership and thinking these days and 1 am of the opinion that our military, if they bring pressures for unwise action with respect to Spain, will be doing great damage to themselves at a time when their thinking la held in such high regard in our Country* lhat position is too precious to run any risk of undermining It* We have seen in the press recently, and particularly In the last few days, that these pressures nave had their affect on soma very good people in Congress who have net thought the matter through* I am happy to note from the papers yesterday and this morning that Secretary Atchison has reiterated our firm stand and that President Truman has made a statement strongly supporting A tchlson In my Views on Spain I am influenced entirely by experience and whatever judgment I may have out of that experience* You have to judge by concrete facts. I mentie* just one, you know that the Spanish Government and Juan March deli erately atola the Barcelona Power Company,which is the most Important in Spain, from its owners about a year and a half ago and have every intention ef keeping it* I will net go Into the details of the story, but it ia as incredible and dirty an act ef government as one can imagine* The treatment of the Spanish authorities accorded the
- 5 - Barcelona Company la characteristic of what they are doing to private property, what will the American taxpayer say If we lend a penny to Spain when at the same time Spain la stealing the property of our citizens and of those of friendly countries. i hope you will forgiws my writing you a fully about this Spanish situation and X had no intention of doing so hut after i got started X had to go into it fairly adequately. If My further expression of my views with regard to Spain would be of Interest to you, pleas let me know* I do not know when I shall be going to Mew York and Washington again, but X am strongly tempted if we do not see you and Mrs. Gibson here to take a plane which stops at Maxwell Field and spend a day with you* I keep going much toe hard for one of my years but I keep quite well and I am hoping that before many months now X may be able to do a little writing in connection with my duties here. My wife Joins In affectionate regard to you both and X hope you will remember me to the children and to ay friends at Maxwell. Cordially snd faithfully yours, George S. Messersmith GSMtjhw