740.0011 Pacific War/3144
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Aide-Mémoire
The Departments of State, War and Navy have carefully considered the British Embassy’s Aide-Mémoire of February 16, 1943 requesting the views of this Government concerning instructions which the [Page 527] British Government proposes to send to the British Ambassador at Lisbon that he should give all possible encouragement to any decision by Dr. Salazar to break off relations with or to declare war on Japan.
The Government of the United States considers that a Portuguese declaration of war upon Japan would have no appreciable effect upon the war against that country. It is unable to accept the premise that the repercussions of such a development would be confined to the Pacific area and believes that it might lead to an extension of the war in Europe. It is accordingly unable to concur in the position indicated by the proposed instructions to Sir Ronald Campbell.