853B.20/64: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Portugal (Fish)
1331. With reference to Horta’s 227 of September 22, 4 p.m., repeated to Lisbon, the Department has long been dissatisfied with restrictions placed upon our consular officers in the Azores and is of the opinion that this matter should be cleared up in so far as possible at once.
You should therefore reopen the matter with the Portuguese Government expressing the urgent desire of this Government to obtain a relaxation (a) of restrictions upon the movements of our consular officials (it is understood that they are confined at all times to the towns of their official residences, and that at certain times, when a state of alarm is declared, they are expected to join concentrations where they are completely immobilized as far as any ability to function officially is concerned); and (b) of the restriction requiring foreigners to reside in specified localities. This restriction appears to apply mainly to a large number of American citizens of Portuguese antecedents, many of whom live in the interior of the Islands where they are engaged in farming, etc. These citizens are financially unable to comply with the restrictions in many cases and their only recourse is to opt for Portuguese nationality. It is obviously distasteful to this Government that its citizens should be thus forced to alienate themselves and adopt another allegiance.
As regards the cable stations, this new decision of the local government appears to threaten our property rights. This matter too should be brought to the attention of the Portuguese Government with a suggestion it consider furnishing assurances that American property rights will in all events be respected.