853.79681/94: Telegram
The Minister in Portugal (Fish) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 26—9:35 a.m.]
1149. Reference to Department’s 901, May 21, concerning use of Azores airports. I doubt very much that the Portuguese Government would permit operation of a “Y” service via the Azores to Europe on a commercial basis at present time. This runs counter both to its established civil aviation policy which is to exploit the favorable position of the Azores in order to force the use of Lisbon as a terminus on the Continent and to its policy of neutrality which inhibits any innovation in practice in favor of one of the belligerents which could give rise to criticism or counterdemands on the part of the other. It is barely possible that after the war the Portuguese might within the framework of present commercial policy permit such a service on condition that a minimum frequency of flights to Lisbon be maintained but at present political considerations would almost surely rule this out.
As the Department is aware, a number of things are now being done in the Azores which could have significance only in connection with an anticipated entry of Portugal into the war. The mere fact that over 2,000 tons of 100-octane gasoline, much of it in drums marked “property Air Force U. S. Army”, have already been transported to those islands where there is no single plane capable of burning such fuel makes it evident that certain agreements must exist which envisage the extensive use of the Azores as a military air base before the war is over. Should the Portuguese Government be requested to permit flights from our country to North Africa via the Azores in the line of military cooperation if and when associated with our country in the prosecution of the war its answer might well be different. But it will scarcely look with favor upon this idea as a commercial proposition until Salazar has been made to see the desirability of a basic change in Portugal’s civil air policy. In any case I do not feel that operation to North Africa should be suggested to the Portuguese until permission to use Lagens for the Lisbon service has been secured.
It is difficult to conceive of concessions we could make at this time which would be apt to sway Salazar and which would at the same time be reconcilable with his neutrality. An offer to let him have fuel and spare parts for his air force equipment together with some trainer planes would certainly pull some weight but hardly enough. Economic concessions would be more impressive but would presumably run afoul of our pre-emptive program.
[Page 532]With respect to Pan American’s application to use a land airport in the Azores, I believe that this matter is proceeding as favorably as could be hoped. At the moment, however, the Portuguese Government is waiting for Pan American to submit the technical data with respect to the ground equipment desired and the flying equipment to be used as agreed upon by Symington46 here. I understand that Leslie47 who is ill at Bermuda has this material and I have just telegraphed the Consul there asking whether it cannot be forwarded by courier on the next plane. It is important that this material should be filed at once with the Portuguese Government since with due regard for Portuguese susceptibilities a decent time should elapse between the presentation of this material and the submission of the request for test flights.
I understand that work is proceeding on the airports on Terceira and São Miguel Islands. The runways at Terceira which have heretofore been grass covered and almost too slippery for the work and the planes which operate there are apparently in the process of being surfaced. I understand that at Ponta Delgada two runways have now been substantially completed, one of 1500 meters and one of 1600 meters; but their angle with relation to prevailing winds is described as unsatisfactory. I am told that the sites on Santa Maria Island would not come into question for our purpose.
The Counselor of the Legation48 recently gained the impression from the British Ambassador49 in an informal conversation that the British were assisting the Portuguese in the construction of one of these airports. It may be that this is a part of the general secret agreement under which aviation fuel, submarine nets, ammunition, et cetera, are being delivered to the Islands.
All this appears to me to indicate the urgency of a clarification of this matter with London. I must reemphasize in this connection that since Imperial and Pan American contracts are identical any facilities acquired by Panair would presumably be automatically available to the British after the war.
Although I do not consider that the moment has yet arrived I think it inevitable that this Legation will eventually have to express to the Portuguese Government the official interest of our Government in this matter. When that time comes it is important that the British should be prepared to support us in this move.