Memorandum from President Harry S. Truman to Secretary of State Dean Acheson, with Attachment

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August 2, 1951 Memorandum for: Secretary of State From: The President Attached is a letter from a good friend of mine in North Carolina to another good friend of mine in Kansas City. I had a conversation with Ambassador Griffis before he left here and informed him that Franco's attitude in these matters is exceedingly obnoxious to me. There was a time, and I think it still exists, when Protestants couldn't have public funerals. They are forced to be buried at night and are allowed no markers for their graves. They are buried in plowed fields like potter's fields. I think in these modern times when we are doing everything we possibly can for religious free- dom that it is a very bad example to be set before the world. I've never been happy about sending an Ambassador to Spain, and I am not happy about it now, and unless Franco changes in his treatment of citizens who do not agree with him religiously I'll be sorely tempted to break off all com- munication with him in spite of the defense of Europe. HSF