840.20/3–949: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Portugal
us urgent
68. Brit Emb has shown us Ronald’s account of conversation with FonMin (Embtel 85 March 9) and instructions FonOff has sent him. We concur generally with those instructions. We are slightly worried by FonMin’s comments on bases. If as Ronald suggests they want to insure that decisions of def organization are unanimous rather than by majority they can be fully reassured since as stated your aide-mémoire Jan 101 no party could be required to grant facilities of its territory without its full consent. No voting procedure whatever in def organization is contemplated. Its purpose will be merely to recommend measures and facilitate agreement between parties upon them. On other hand we do not believe Port should be under any illusions that facilities in Azores for def of area may not be necessary in peace time. It may accordingly be well for you to reiterate statements in your aide-mémoire Jan 10 that there would be “definite obligation to contribute toward collective def of area both before and after any armed attack had occurred by provision of assistance commensurate with resources and geographic location of each country” and that treaty “is designed to strengthen defensive capability of sovereign parties in order better to assure security of all.”
On duration, provision for review after ten years should help reassure [Page 202] Port. Twenty years seems very brief period compared to duration Anglo-Port Alliance. Every effort being made to insure that Germany cannot again become aggressor but if these efforts fail North Atlantic Pact would certainly be applicable.
We see no inconsistency between Pact and existing Span-Port agreements nor any impediment in Pact to future def arrangements between Spain and Portugal.
It is clearly understood that obligation to consult covers threat to any party in any part of world including its overseas possessions.
Also do not understand Port Point 4 and like Brit consider Pact offers all parties much more effective assurances for security than does Charter.
Foregoing discussed with Brit Emb here which concurs and you should continue to concert with Ronald.