711.53/45: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:20 p.m.]
4368. Reference Department’s 4290, May 30, 4 p.m. Roberts of the Foreign Office told Embassy this afternoon that as a result of Campbell’s talk with Salazar on May 24 the Foreign Office is more hopeful than otherwise that Salazar will meet our demands. Salazar gave as his reasons for wanting to postpone immediate decision the meeting of the Second Congress of the National Union Party and the celebrations in honor of the eighteenth year of his administration. The urgency of the matter has been stressed by the British, according to Roberts, and another telegram was sent to Campbell this afternoon instructing him to press for an early reply. Through the Portuguese Ambassador to London, who is caught in Lisbon and is said to have been most helpful in impressing on Salazar the serious view the British take of the wolfram question, Campbell had endeavored to have complete embargo put on all exports of wolfram while consideration is being given to whole question.
Roberts feels that for British, Americans, and Brazilians again to approach Salazar formally and demand a temporary embargo before he has replied to Campbell’s approach of last week would not be wise. Roberts anticipates that Salazar may make what he described as a “big gesture” in accord with the Alliance and does not wish to prejudice this action by premature pressing for temporary embargo. However, Roberts stated that should Salazar’s reply be along the lines that an embargo would be declared providing Britain and United States were willing to make certain economic commitments, Foreign Office would press for complete embargo during course of discussions on possible economic concessions to Portugal.
[Page 122]Roberts gave no indication that Foreign Office was greatly disturbed over effect of American independent approach on question of second field as suggested in Lisbon’s 245 to London of May 25.97
Sent to Washington. Repeated to Lisbon.