Spanish+Embargo+Act

The Spanish Embargo Act 

President Roosevelt of United States advocated neutrality when it came to the Spanish Civil War. In the summer of 1936, in the midst of Great Depression, President Roosevelt of the imposed an embargo on the sale of arms to both the Loyalists and the Nationalists. He asked Congress to sign a neutrality act to allow legal embargoes against countries in civil war. In the spring of 1937, Congress revised the "Cash and Carry" policy, where countries could buy United States' goods other than arms for cash, and transport them in their own ships. This act left the embargo for Spain still in effect.

By 1939, Francisco Franco had gained strength and was taking control of much of Spain. In February of the same year, both governments of Great Britain and France officially recognized Franco as the leader of Spain.

In March, Roosevelt called Ambassador Claude Bowers, who supported the Loyalists; he urged Franco not to punish the Loyalist supporters merely because they did not share the same views. On March 28, when Franco and the Nationalists took control Madrid, Franco ordered the imprisonment and execution of thousands of Loyalists.

On April 1, Roosevelt ended the embargo against Spain, and on April 4, he recognized Franco as the head of the government of Spain.