711.0012Anti-War/137: Telegram
The Minister in Portugal (Dearing) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 4—10:45 a.m.]
31. The Minister for Foreign Affairs called at the Legation this afternoon and expressed the keenest interest in having Portugal invited to sign the peace pact in Paris the last of this month. He showed me a notice to the effect that Primo de Rivera is expected to go and sign on behalf of Spain and said it would cause a very painful impression in Portugal if Spain were invited to sign while Portugal, an ally, a signatory of all the Paris treaties, the third colonial power of the world, and a country with which we have never had a war but have always been friendly and at peace should merely be left to adhere. He pointed out the extent and important location of the colonies, the [Page 135] constantly growing market our country is finding in Portuguese dominions and the potential advantage to us of the various colonial possessions, the fact that Portugal is a better market than Czechoslovakia, which is to sign, and so forth. He indicated that the Portuguese Minister at Washington had been instructed to approach the Department of State but said he wished me to know what great importance Portugal attached to the treaty on account of its character and significance and to being associated in the signing of it instead of merely being lending adherence. He declared it would vastly benefit our relations with Portugal, that he felt sure the French would welcome their presence at the signing and that it would give general satisfaction. He said he could think of no quarter in which an invitation to Portugal could cause any hard feeling, referred again to Spain and said he could not see why Spain should be invited to sign in view of her war record while Portugal was left merely to adhere. He also mentioned Rumania’s efforts to be included in the signing and said he thought Portugal had the better right.
I told the Minister I was in sympathy with his desire to share in signing the pact to outlaw war and that I would at once report what he had said and recommend that Portugal be included among the nations to sign, although I did not know what criterion the Secretary had adopted in the matter and could not commit the Department in any way.
The record as given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs is true. Moreover, this country is making at present most commendable efforts to reform its administration and provide good government. It has just balanced its budget. An invitation to be present at Paris would be of material assistance and enhance its prestige at home and abroad. With its colonies Portugal is of constantly increasing importance for our trade and of great potential importance for our communications and defense. I think Portugal should be, and I so recommend, included among the nations invited to sign the peace pact and I feel sure such an invitation will greatly aid negotiations for the treaty of conciliation and arbitration and the treaty of friendship and commerce now under discussion (Department’s instructions 890 and 898 of March 29 and April 11, respectively).11
If invited Portugal will send to sign for her Dr. Bettencourt Rodrigues, her Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Please instruct me by telegraph.
- No. 890 not printed. For No. 898, see vol. iii, p. 774.↩