853B.20/52: Telegram
The Minister in Portugal (Fish) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 22—3:24 a.m.]
353. Department’s No. 416, April 20, 11 p.m. Since the interview at the Foreign Office reported in my 305, April 10, 4 p.m., the Legation has twice requested the Foreign Office to expedite an answer to its notes regarding the situation in Azores with particular reference to the position of our Consuls there.
Last night Dr. Costa Carneiro went over the same ground covered in telegram mentioned above and again assured the Legation that while the authorities in Azores were compelled to take precautions the absurd order issued at Ponta Delgada requiring all foreigners including Consuls to proceed to a football field following a signal was a mistake and was being dealt with. He explained that the precautions taken by the insular authorities were aimed at coping with fifth column activities and had of necessity to be addressed to all foreign Consuls. He suggested that it might be in the interest of the United States that these precautionary measures were taken since they applied to our enemies. The Legation has been informed by the Consul in Ponta Delgada that situation is calmer since arrival of General Passos e Sousa who appears to have been sent for an investigation. Military Attaché23 informs me for [that?] he has heard that the General’s predecessor who was responsible for the above mentioned order will be recalled and it had even been suggested that he is mentally unbalanced. I have kept in constant touch with my British colleague who has received reassuring reports from the Azores and tells me that [Page 239] since his first note of protest which was presented on March 31 he has made no representations to the Portuguese Government.
I shall continue to press the Foreign Office for an answer to my representations.
Repeated to Ponta Delgada and Horta.
- Col. William E. Shipp.↩