File No. 853.032/3

The Minister in Portugal (Birch) to the Secretary of State

No. 57]

Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that the Portuguese Senate and House of Deputies assembled yesterday in regular session. Nothing of importance was transacted aside from the usual formal organization on the first day except the delivery of an address by the Premier when, in referring to the partial mobilization [Page 157] of the Army, he made the significant statement that “it was for the effective preparation of a division soon to leave for the seat of war.” This statement is in accord with information already sent to the Department in some of my previous despatches.

I have [etc.]

Thomas H. Birch