811.20 Defense (M) Portugal/1545: Telegram
The Minister in Portugal (Norweb) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:15 p.m.]
1765. Reference is made to the Legation’s telegram No. 1734 of June 6. Lisbon evening papers of June 7 published the following without comment:
The Government of His Britannic Majesty having invoked the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance to the end that exportation of wolfram should cease as a means of contributing to the shortening of the war, the Government has resolved to accede to that request and has decided to terminate immediately the exportation of that product.
In taking such a grave decision the Portuguese Government desired once again to prove its fidelity to the traditional alliance between the two nations and rejoices at the appreciation with which the British Government greeted its decision and at the recognition of the importance for the future of strong bonds between the peoples and Governments of Portugal and the British Commonwealth both of which were so amicably affirmed in the communication made by the Secretary of State of His Britannic Majesty to the House of Commons.
The newspapers also published Eden’s statement to the House of Commons of June 7.
On June 8 semi-official Diario da Manhã carried an editorial emphasizing that Portugal had consistently been loyal to the Alliance during the war the present action not representing a change of policy and stated the British request had been satisfied 2 days before the opening of the second front. Other editors made similar points noting the sacrifice which Portugal was making.
Notices of the Stettinius statement7 were published but without mention that the United States had been active in the negotiations although it was mentioned in a Renter despatch that the United States had been consulted and that Brazil had aided in the solution reached.
Public opinion generally holds that the Portuguese Government had lost face by delaying too long.
- See telegram 1654, June 8, 8 p.m., to Lisbon, infra.↩