Office of the Historian

811.20 Defense (M) Spain/755: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Portugal (Fish)

Washington, May 23, 1943—3 p.m.

908. References Lisbon’s 1015 May 9,51 Department’s 965 of May 19 [20] to Algiers. Lisbon 79 and 80 of May 18 and 19 to Algiers and Algiers’ 885 of May 15 to Department.52

1.
We believe it highly desirable to start some movement of the cross-trade and understand that Algiers has agreed with the French that no consideration for the token shipment of 10,000 tons of phosphates should be asked. For these reasons we conclude that in the case of the token shipments an exception should be made to the principle that the resumption of phosphate shipments is dependent upon Portuguese willingness and ability to carry to North Africa in Portuguese bottoms, materials within the normal limits of the previous trade, and that the Portuguese vessels nominated for the token shipments may go south in ballast. However, since Madrid 1201 of May 951 indicates that the Spanish have agreed that one vessel should carry cargo south-bound, we believe that the Portuguese should be asked to do the same. To this extent the instructions in Department’s 965 of May 19 [20] are modified as a result of the subsequent receipt of the other telegrams under reference.
2.
At the same time that the Portuguese are informed of the approval of the token shipments even though all or all but one vessel move south in ballast, a strong line should be taken and the Portuguese should be informed that future shipments, whether as part of the ad hoc trade or as part of the long range program, are dependent entirely upon their ability and willingness to carry to North Africa in Portuguese bottoms, materials within the normal limits of previous trade between the two areas.
3.
We assume from Algiers’ no. 885 of May 15 that it is understood that British and American representatives will be associated with [Page 47] Theodore53 when the Portuguese are informed of the offer of a token shipment of 10,000 tons of phosphates.

Repeated to Algiers, Madrid and London as Department’s Nos. 993, 1177 and 3262, respectively.

Hull
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. None printed; telegrams Nos. 79 and 80 were repeated to the Department as unnumbered telegrams.↩
  3. Not printed.↩
  4. Ernest Théodore, General Giraud’s representative in Portugal.↩