FRANCO'S NEGOTIATIONS FOR DELIVERING ARMS TO ARAB STATES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R001800790007-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: September 3, 1948
• Content Type: REPORT

COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF I
25X1X
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Spain/hiddIe.East?
. , . .
Franeots Negotiations or
Delivering Arma teAtab-St
25X1A
25X1A
DATE DISTR. 3 September 1948
COW:DEN/1AL acco,d:rice w
NO. OF PAGES
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Next Review Date: 2008
Slip
FENCL.S.
DELOW)
LEMENT TO
)RT NO.
2
LIBRAK
25X
1. The award by BiOharah Khuri, President of the. Lebanese Rejublic, of the
decoration "Lebanese Order of Yorit? Exceptional Class,' to General Franco
was entirely awing to the offer of arms and ammunition made by the Franco
Government of Spain to the Arab countries. The decoration r.o...s to be pre-
sented to Franco in Madrid by the Lebanese Charg6 dvAffairos in Spain,
Salamah.
2. In returs Franco granted the Grand Cross of Charles III to President Khuri.
The trip which the Vanister of Spain in Cairo, Alms() Caro y del Arroyo, made
to Beirut in July, had as its object the presentation of the Franco decoration
to President Khuri.
3. Caro 's trip to Beirut coincided with the presence in that capital of a special
envoy of France v5 The arrival of both Franco mon in Lebanon was the result of
the offer of arms to the Arab states by Spain. Not only Lebanese authorities
were to take part in the negotiations, but also reprosontativea of the Arab
League.
4. It had been planned that other decorations no to be granted to Frznnco by
Arab stAtos, and it was anreod beforehand Lhat tho second one was to be from
Syria. This sari e. of dcoora:bione w roqu(stod by the Spanish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs at the time that the offer of arms was made, as the Hinint;:sy
claimed that such superior sor7ice to the Arabs "required that they honor the
25X1A person or France as he deserved, for his generosity and his love of the Arab
cause in Palostino." Comment. Date of this offer not otherwise
specified.)
5. The Franco representatives lot it be understood by the delegates of the Arab
Leacue that, in spite of the strongest desires of Franco to supply the arm
mud ararattaition offered, there vore very serious reasons for delaying cons=
motion of the dcal ono of the reasons givon V= a throat of trouble with
Great Britain if Spain should supply arms to the Arabs, which. throat,, according;
to them, had boon fulfilled by the collapse of the present Anglo-Spanish
commercial agroomont.
CLASSIFICATION: ****1.4,#/0017211(4, S. OFFICIALS ONLY
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FIPI CI ALS ONLY
CENTRAL INTIMLIGENCE AGWOY
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?/n spite of the efforts of the Arab de1egate4 to dt.volop raohods by ,aiiir.,;14
Spain nicht deliver the arms offered, thcv did not cueeeed in obtainIDe
apy fira, conorete promise from the France representatives.
. The delivery of the arms and ammunition was deferred by Frannen repre;lon-
tatives to an indefinite dato. Their only preoise llas to carry to Liadrid
the plans worked out by the Arabs for secret and efficient delivery of the
arms.
8. As a consequence, the delegates of the Arab Leaoce stated to Francels
representatives that the award of the remaining Arab decorations would be
suspended until the question of the arms deal ras solved and tho willinoness
of Spain to deliver the goods, beonme apparent.
lottorgotp/cournoL u. s. OF.FICIALS on
CONFIDENTIAL,
Approved For Release 200 : CIA-RDP82-00457R001800790007-3