811.34553B/36: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Portugal (Norweb)
2195. Your 2906 and 2911, December 2. I heartily congratulate you and Kennan on the rapid and substantial progress made. Your encouraging telegrams have been brought to the attention of the President and War and Navy, and guidance will be furnished on the points you raise as promptly as possible.
Please clarify Salazar’s expression of concern “that we should consider this as a facility extended to us by Portugal and not by the British”. How do you reconcile this with his anxiety to place our facilities under Anglo-Portuguese agreement?
Restrictions concerning which we have complained in the past as affecting movements of Consuls in the Azores20 apparently still apply and it is obvious these will interfere seriously with our activities if allowed to continue. Could you not discuss this informally with Salazar, pointing out the practical inconvenience and requesting him to issue appropriate instructions to the insular authorities to permit some freedom of movement for Maritime Delegates and also for our [Page 577] survey parties, etc.? Or do you feel this might jeopardize your negotiations?