701.6211/1499: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle)
145. Following is Legation Lisbon’s 31, January 15, 6 p.m. to Department:
“Foreign Office has informally approached me regarding the provision of our proposal for exchange of diplomatic personnel which states ‘the debarkation from the vessel at Lisbon of the personnel arriving from the United States and the entry into Portuguese territory of the personnel arriving from continental Europe shall be simultaneous.’
Chief of Protocol points out that this offers certain practical difficulties in arranging train schedules in view of disrupted transportation service particularly in Spain. Should the groups start from their concentration points at the same time the vessel with European group leaves the United States the trains will unquestionably reach the Portuguese frontier before the ship reaches Lisbon. It will be not only impossible but impracticable to hold the trains immobile at the border station until the ship arrives in port. He suggests therefore that our groups be allowed to enter Portugal as soon as they reach the frontier. They will await arrival of the ship in Lisbon or at any other point in Portugal which may be decided upon, the Portuguese Government guaranteeing that no member of the American group will leave the country until the European group has disembarked. This is the arrangement which has been followed in the exchange of the British-Finnish diplomatic groups just completed.
I have informed the Chief of Protocol that I would submit this proposal to the Department for consideration. I said however, that I did not think it would be acceptable to the German and Italian Governments. I also pointed out that in case the vessel reached Lisbon before the trains had crossed the Portuguese frontier we would probably request the Foreign Office to prevent debarkation until our groups were on Portuguese territory as had been done in the case of the West Point.16 Please instruct.”
Please inform Swiss Government of foregoing and state that Department is agreeable to proposal made by Portuguese Government. Please request Swiss Government to ascertain whether German and Italian Governments are likewise agreeable to this proposal. In the affirmative case it is requested that the German and Italian Governments so notify the Portuguese Government and that you inform Department in order that Legation at Lisbon may be appropriately instructed.
- See bracketed note, Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. ii, p. 632.↩