To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Civil War, José Ángel Mañas recreates in Zenda, day by day in this section, what happened in 1936, perhaps the most pivotal year in Spain’s recent history.
Saturday, October 17, 1936: On the Right of Asylum
Transcription of the meeting of the Diplomatic Corps held at the Chilean embassy on Prado Street in Madrid:
SEÑOR
EMBAJADOR DE CHILE
. I see that we are the usual lot: I myself serving as dean; Mr. Helfant of the Romanian embassy, as secretary; Mr. Rodríguez Beteta, ambassador of Guatemala; Constantino Zanesco, ambassador of Romania; Mr. Pérez Quesada, chargé d’affaires of Argentina; Mr. Ogilvie Forbes, chargé d’affaires of Great Britain; the Turkish and Bulgarian minister-counsellors. As you will recall, I showed everyone two days ago the communication from Álvarez del Vayo in which the minister simply denies us, without further ado, the right of asylum. I read it to you again: “As the exercise of the right of asylum has led to notable abuses, the Government wishes to inform the members of the Diplomatic Corps in Madrid that it is obliged to renounce the exercise of extraordinary tolerance that has characterized in relation to the exercise of the right of asylum, reserving the possibility to act against these abuses in the manner in which the high interests of the Republic demand at each moment.” In response to this, it was agreed to appoint a commission of three ambassadors (those from Chile, Brazil, who, being ill, have asked to be excused from attendance, and Mexico) to confer with the President of the Republic before he moves, as I am informed he will shortly, to Barcelona. The Azaña, in his palace, appeared utterly indifferent to the note from the Minister of State. Moreover: he has declared that, in his opinion, the Diplomatic Corps accredited and resident in Madrid is carrying out a humanitarian effort and that, in his view, that effort should be as broad as possible. He says that if the missions wish to leave Madrid he himself will guarantee the lives of the asylum seekers and that even if the very Franco asked him, he would grant it immediately. “To have one less enemy?” I asked. “No, Mr. Ambassador, to save one more life….”
SEÑOR EMBAJADOR DE ARGENTINA. Do not continue, those are phrases from the president. Your literary streak is showing.
SEÑOR EMBAJADOR DE RUMANÍA. They are not phrases, Mr. Ambassador of Argentina. This right is almost as old as the world. It has existed whenever armed elements threaten the lives of individuals without the authorities defending them. It is one of the noblest and highest diplomatic prerogatives. Therefore, we are bound to play a humanitarian role, given the terror that prevails.
SEÑOR EMBAJADOR DE GUATEMALA. We are all in complete agreement. The right of asylum is strictly humanitarian, with absolute disregard for flags or partisanship. Its sole aim is to mitigate the slaughter of noncombatant people. It is a customary right. It has existed since before the Havana Convention. There have been asylum grants by diplomatic missions for many years in Europe…
SEÑOR EMBAJADOR DE MÉXICO. Not only in Europe. It is an elemental right, emanating from the very sovereignty of the nation. The situation in which a country cannot have its territory violated or invaded by a foreign power applies to embassies and legations. The Spanish government itself practices the right of asylum in our homelands and implicitly recognizes it, when the wife of President Azaña and a daughter of Mr. Prieto requested and obtained asylum on an Argentine warship in Alicante. Not to mention the United States, which signs no treaty, and Great Britain, which, following its tradition, instructs its subjects not to meddle in others’ affairs; the others are in agreement on this point.
SEÑOR EMBAJADOR DE CHILE. It is true that the president’s reply granted us full guarantees. The problem is the Government’s impotence. We all stop counting the dead that appear on the road from La Dehesa to Puerta de Hierro or on the very Calle Cea Bermúdez, at the Matadero market, the San Isidro cemetery, and a lamentable etcetera. Even so, as early as September a group of militiamen appeared demanding that a certain person sheltered in the Chilean embassy be handed over. Although we managed to prevent it, since then they have been at the embassy’s door. They frisk without any shame everyone who enters or leaves this building…
SEÑOR EMBAJADOR DE MÉXICO. In my country we endure a similar struggle, even though it has never resulted in the absolute disappearance of individual guarantees as now.
SEÑOR EMBAJADOR DE CHILE. For this reason we must determine whether it is possible to continue relations with a Government that tolerates so much crime. The Argentine delegation has already said that they have always found in the Government the greatest shelter. Consequently, they have no complaint and will remain. Except for that delegation and the representatives of Turkey, Mexico, and myself, who have orders to stay in Madrid, the others were ordered to leave. I must also inform you that I received a business card from Ambassador Rosenberg, to whom I will send another immediately, for we are civilized beings. That poses a risk of changing the tone of these meetings…
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