853B.014/30
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
Mr. Butler17 of the British Embassy called to see me this morning at his request. Mr. Butler requested me to submit to the President the [Page 851] following request of the Prime Minister which he understood had already, at least in part, been under consideration by the President.
The British Government desired to know whether the Government of the United States would be prepared immediately to undertake joint staff conversations with the British Government to agree upon plans covering the occupation of the Azores, such plans to be contingent upon the unwillingness of the Prime Minister of Portugal to request assistance of the British and United States Governments in the defense of the independence and integrity of those islands.
I stated to Mr. Butler that I would submit this request immediately to the President and let the British Ambassador have the President’s reply.
- Nevile M. Butler, British Minister.↩