Juan Francisco de Cárdenas

Juan Francisco de Cárdenas represented the Second Republic in Washington in 1932–1934 and then in Paris. During the Civil War he joined Franco’s side and undertook unofficial representation in the United States. American officials distinguished that activity from an accredited mission while they continued to recognize the Republican government. ^{1, 2}

After the United States recognized Franco’s government in April 1939, Cárdenas resumed formal leadership of the Spanish mission. He first served as chargé and then presented ambassadorial credentials in June. ^{3, 1}

Economic disputes occupied Cárdenas after his return as ambassador. On 18 March 1940, State Department adviser James Clement Dunn told him that new Spanish conditions had obstructed an agreement to restore American management of Spain’s telephone system. Dunn emphasized Washington’s frustration after repeated delays. Cárdenas replied that he had already urged Madrid to settle with the American telephone officials and would do so again. ⁴

As the Second World War ended, Cárdenas confronted the international consequences of Franco’s wartime associations. Meeting acting secretary of state Joseph Grew on 9 July 1945, he asked about efforts to apply the new United Nations membership restrictions to Spain. Mexico had proposed excluding regimes established with military assistance from the Axis powers while those regimes remained in office, and the American delegation had supported that interpretation. Cárdenas specifically asked about possible Chilean and Uruguayan initiatives. Cárdenas emphasized that he was speaking personally, without instructions from Madrid. ⁵