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, XY . on } 7c Director, FBI : oe Te York, N. Y. Ed sD: Maroh 4, 1944 Teg! RABATIONS WITH OFFICE OF MAVA. werezicEne ) During the week of February 20, 1944, MANUEL de le SOTA was ap- proached by an officer 6f the United States Navy in New York City connected with OM which officer requested the Basques to have all Basque seilors arriving in the United States report to him so that he could interview them relative to maritime mtters throughout the world. Mr. de 1m SOTA advised Mr. IRALA of this request of the Navy and the matter is presently under dis- oussion in New York City between this office and the District Intelligence Office of OXI. ai {Basouest RELATIONS WITH THE BUREAU - AS SUGGESTED BY BASQUES Mr. IRALA advised Mr. Doyle that it is his belief and President AGUIRRE's’ desire that ali contsot between Basques in the United States and in the Western Hemisphere be with representatives of the Bureau only. Mr. TRALA stated he believed that if this is acceptable to the Bureau, appropriate letters should be forwarded to the Basque representetives in each Latin American country instructing these representatives that they are lead solely with the Bureau's representative in thet particular country. ) Mr. IRALA suggested that if such a plan is accepted, it is the desire of the Basque Delegation that the Bureau's Legal Attaches maintain comtant contact with the Basque agents to direct them along whatever lines are desired by the Bureau and instruct them wherever necessary in the types of information desired and in the methods of obteining the information. Mr. TRALA understands the amount of money to be paid by the Bureau to any of the Basque representetiyes rests within the discretion of the Bureau's various representatives. Mr. Doyle has pointed out to Mr. IRALA the inadvisability of turning over # lump sum to President AGUIRRE for distribution throughout Eatin America to Basque representatives. Mr. IRALA states that the Basques will be satisfied if the reletionship between the Legal Attaches and the Basques is maintained as though the funds paid the various Basques emansted <= from President AGUIRRE in the United States. Mr. IRALA advised that under these circumstances, the Besques will perform far more ably as they would then be working for patriotic motives and not as paid agents of the United States Government. Mr. IKALA believes, however, that in many instances, suns of money should be d Basque representatives or otherwise they might suffer economic hardship. \ if -4 142