The European War Office (Spanish; Castilian: Oficina de la Guerra Europea or Oficina Pro Cautivos) was a humanitarian office created by King Alfonso XIII of Spain to help the victims of the First World War, regardless of their allegiance, or whether they were of military or civilian status. The War Office was governed directly by the Private Secretary of the King; it was based in the Royal Palace of Madrid.
One of the King's most imperative achievements was to create a compromise between both sides of the conflict, to prevent the further sinking of hospital ships. As consequence of this, Spanish naval observers sailed hospital ships of various countries, in order to ensure that the vessels were being used for their intended purpose, as opposed to military expeditions. The King also collaborated in the creation of a dedicated signal code for hospital ships.[1]
See main article: Spain during World War I. In the interim of World War I, Spain remained neutral due to several inducements. One of these, more esteemed, reasons for the King, was because of his family bonds—his wife being British and his mother Austrian, among other family relations. Nonetheless, this did not prevent the King from forming the European War Office, thus, expressing involvement in the war.
On August 7, 1914, it was published in Gaceta de Madrid, a Royal Decree, signed by both King Alfonso and Prime Minister Eduardo Dato, declared the country's neutrality, stating that government had the "duty to order the strictest neutrality to Spanish subjects in accordance with the laws in force and the principles of public international law".
For the Government, there was no purpose to engage in the conflict, especially considering that there were not enough resources to do so—[2] a reason which the political and economic class conceded upon.[3] King Alfonso also agreed, despite having talked with the French ambassador of his desire to enter the conflict on the side of the Allies in exchange of "some tangible satisfaction," presumably referring to Tangier.[4]
Another consequential rationale for Spanish neutrality was the precariousness of its armed forces. Spain was involved in numerous conflicts in the north of Africa because of its protectorate of Morocco. This situation caused for an outdated Army, with inferior supplies and, because of the large number of officers, most of the budget went to pay their salaries. The Navy's reputation was impaired due to the defeat in the Spanish-American War of 1898. It was not until a decade later when the government started again to invest in new warships, however, the Navy was not ready to engage great powers.
Social unrest must also be mentioned, as a result of growing support of the labor movement and the appearance of left-wing republican parties, which may attempt to spark a republican revolution. A coup d'état would be unfavorable to Spain.
The Office, was formed in, approximately, 1914 with six staff. A publication in a French newspaper, Le Petit Girondais, provoked an avalanche of letters from many Europeans asking for aid. This compelled the King to enlarge the Office to 48 staff members, all of them speaking several languages, assisted by many volunteers. A notable member of the Office was historian and translator Julián Juderías, who spoke 15 languages.
The office worked in coordination with the Red Cross and was structured in several sections:[5]
The Office admitted more than 200,000 letters —140,000 of them from the families of soldiers— all of whom were answered thanks to, what Juan José Alonso Martín, director of the Palace General Archives, has described as "a primitive computing system."[6]
The efforts of the King was not only to find people's relatives but to cease the practice of capital punishment. It is calculated that approximately 100 were saved from execution thanks to the Office —including French and German soldiers. The King even tried to save Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family, with no success.[7] [8] The Palace General Archives have more than 90 documents sent to St. Petersburg that proves the efforts to liberate or visit the Tsar —the Office's staff visited more than 4,000 prisoners over all Europe— but the Romanovs were already dead when the rescue operation began. However, the King was not sure of the fate of the Tsarina and her children so he and his Office continued.[6]
There is evidence that his efforts were instrumental in lifting the German invasion of Belgium, so that provisions from the United States could reach its nine million inhabitants.
Diplomats involved in the operation received the Reconnaissance Française medal, the women received the Red Cross medal and the rest of the staff received the Order of Isabel the Catholic Queen.
King Alfonso himself was thanked by the people of Belgium and Italy in 1923. He was also greatly admired around the world. A young English girl even wrote this prayer which appeared in a newspaper: "And God bless Father and Mother, and Nurse, and send Father back soon from his horrid prison in Germany. And God bless specially the dear King of Spain who found out about Father. Amen."[9]
In 1917, King Alfonso was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, but it was given to the International Committee of the Red Cross. He was nominated again in 1933, when already in exile. In honor of its Royal status, Le Meurice Hotel has a room with his name, Suite Royale Alphonse XIII, where the acclaimed Spanish painter Salvador Dalí spent one month every year for thirty years.
Nowadays, all these letters and documents from the European War Office are property of the Royal Palace of Madrid archives and they were displayed as part of a public exhibition called Letters to the King. The humanitarian activities of Alfonso XIII during the Great War between November 8, 2018, and March 3, 2019. It was held in the Genoa Rooms of the Royal Palace of Madrid.