Memorandum from Leopold H. Kerney to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)
(S.S. 50/19)¹

I received at very short notice an official invitation, addressed on behalf of General Franco, to assist at the ceremony of inauguration of the monument to General Mola at Alcocer, 211 km. distant from San Sebastian, on Saturday 3rd June at noon. I regret that I found it impossible to communicate with you telegraphically beforehand, but I trust that you will approve of my decision to accept the invitation.

I left San Sebastian at 8 a.m., taking the Egyptian Minister with me in my car; we reached Alcocer at 11.30 a.m. The ceremony concluded at 1 p.m. We were back in San Sebastian at 6 p.m., after lunching at Vitoria at 2.30 p.m.

The mileage allowance for travelling by car - the only method of travelling available - would be £4. 1. 6.; would you please inform me whether it will be in order for me to submit an account accordingly; I await your confirmation before doing so.

Perhaps I should mention that there is a simmering discontent amongst the heads of Missions in San Sebastian because of the somewhat casual manner in which they are treated by the Spanish Government and the lack of regard shown to them; the Nuncio was present at this inauguration; there was only one Ambassador, the Portuguese; the Japanese, Irish and Columbian Ministers were there, although latter is one of the many who have not yet presented their credentials; there were also the Chargés d'Affaires of U.S.A., Estonia, Egypt, Finland, and also some Counsellors and Secretaries representing their Ambassadors; there were many absentees.

When the ceremony ended, we were all made to wait, standing, the Nuncio with the rest of us, whilst members of the Government got into their motor cars, one after the other; then it was the turn of officials, such as Barcenas and the Introducer of Ambassadors and latter's assistant; I suppose about 15 minutes passed in this way and then we saw a large group of turbaned Moors descending the steps towards the road, whereupon even the mild-mannered Nuncio could not help ejaculating - 'Hasta los Moros!' ('Even the Moors!'); that seemed to him to be about the last straw. The Japanese Minister's car then came along and he drove away; then my car came and I had no choice but to get in, after saying good-bye to the Nuncio and the Portuguese Ambassador; latter went looking for his car; I do not know whether the Nuncio was the last to leave.