European War Office

The European War Office (Spanish: 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.

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— a reason which the political and economic class conceded upon. 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.

Another consequential rationale for the government's neutrality was the precariousness of its armed forces. The army was involved in fighting numerous insurgencies in its North-African protectorate of Morocco. This situation strained the outdated, undersupplied, underfunded and asymmetrical army, that had an oversized officer corps which absorbed most of its budget. 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 threatened to initiate a Republican revolution.

The Office, was formed in, approximately, 1914 with seven 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.