740.0011 P.W./1328: Telegram
The Minister in Portugal (Fish) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 20—4:30 a.m.]
760. My telegram No. 754, December 18, 10 p.m.78 Salazar79 addressed the National Assembly this afternoon. The speech was firm but restrained in tone and consisted of a recital of the negotiations and events leading to the occupation of Timor by Dutch and Australian troops. The principal points are that Portugal refuses to accept the explanations of the British and Dutch Governments for the violation of Portuguese neutrality; Portugal will continue to study the question of the protection of this territory; Portugal has loyally and conscientiously observed all her obligations to her ally but has not been accorded the treatment due a friend and ally.
There has been much nervous tension throughout the day as the usual rumors have circulated. However, the reception of the speech was calm and the attitude of the people in general continues one of regret that their country should have been placed in such a difficult position by Great Britain.
Full text by air mail with further comment.80
- Not printed.↩
- Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, Portuguese Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
- Not printed. On December 19 the Portuguese Minister (Bianchi) informed the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck) in this connection that the “incident might be productive of an unfortunately adverse opinion in Portugal.” (740.0011 Pacific War/1582)↩