U.S. Ambassador in Spain Charged with Hampering Rescue Work; His Recall Asked

The charge that U.S. Ambassador to Spain Carlton J. Hayes has balked the rescue activities of the War Refugee Board and has refused to transmit to an American relief organization in Spain a license issued by the Treasury Department, with the approval of the State Department, to carry on relief and evacuation work among refugees there, was made here today by Rep. Emanuel Celler of New York, in a statement to the press.

Demanding the recall of Ambassador Hayes because he “completely stymied efforts to aid refugees,” Rep. Celler said: “It is common knowledge that Ambassador Hayes has not even tried to obtain the cooperation of the Spanish Government in carrying out the policy of the President as announced in the directive setting up the war Refugee Board. It is hard to believe that the Spanish Government, if approached on humanitarian grounds, would not be willing to help in this great cause.”

Celler charged that although the cost has been borne by private agencies and at no expense to the American Government and there would be no responsibility of maintenance attached to the Spanish Government, Hayes has consistently refused to present to Spain for its consideration any plan to facilitate the evacuation of refugees into and through Spain. The Spanish Government might follow the United States’ example and establish a free port for refugees if Hayes “would so much as approach” the Government, Celler said. He added that the War Refugee Board has been thwarted by Hayes’ refusal to permit a full time representative of the Board to be stationed in Spain, though representatives were posted in other countries.