811.34653B/7–2146: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Portugal (Baruch)
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698. For Culbertson from Hickerson. After further consideration here of urtel 638 Jul 2158 and consultation with War and Navy we believe it is preferable not to make such a detailed statement to Portuguese in writing at this time. We feel it is essential first to dispose of the deadline of Aug 2 which is inherent in the 120 day period of May 30 Agreement and therefore propose an approach to Portuguese along following line:
In Mr. Russell’s memo to Dr. Salazar59 he suggested that if assurances outlined by Russell appeared to provide basis for long term agreement, immediate consideration be given to the effect which such an agreement would have on May 30 Agreement. Salazar agreed assurances did provide such a basis.
Any new agreement will inevitably require different dispositions of materiel and personnel now at Santa Maria than that contained in the May 30 Agreement. Thus, in view of this relationship between the May 30 Agreement and a new agreement, we ask that application of Pgh (E)60 of May 30 Agreement be suspended during period of discussions.
Meanwhile we are recasting language of your letter and will send on our comments as soon as possible. [Hickerson.]
- Not printed; it outlined the points of political guarantees to Portugal which the United States was prepared to make regarding the Azores (811.34553B/7–2146).↩
- See telegram 615, July 16, from Lisbon, p. 1004.↩
- Paragraph (E) provided that “During a transitional period of 120 days the American and British authorities will withdraw from the airfields in question all the material and personnel at present there which the Portuguese authorities do not consider to be indispensable for the maintenance and operation of the airfields and do not wish to acquire or engage.”↩