741.53/118: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
London, June 29,
1943—10 p.m.
[Received June 29—6:27 p.m.]
4285. For the Secretary and the Under Secretary. My telegram No. 4228,
June 26, midnight. The Prime Minister desires that the following message
be transmitted to the President:
- “1. We have now received the Portuguese reply about Lifebelt.54 This stated that the Portuguese are ready in
principle to accord us the facilities we require. The
consequences of this acceptance may, however, be so serious
for Portugal and the life of her people that the actual use
of the facilities accorded in principle must be preceded by
the previous examination by the two Governments of the
political, military and economic considerations
involved.
- 2. The reply also takes note of our undertaking that at
the close of hostilities British troops would be withdrawn
from Bracken, and of the assurances concerning the
maintenance of Portuguese sovereignty over all Portuguese
colonies. In this connection the Portuguese Government state
that they will be glad to receive a similar [Page 535] guarantee from the
Government of the United States which we had indicated would
be forthcoming. I hope you will be able to authorize me to
inform the Portuguese Government that in the event of a
satisfactory agreement being reached the United States
Government are willing to associate themselves with the
assurances already given by His Majesty’s Government in the
United Kingdom.
- 3. In the course of discussion with His Majesty’s
Ambassador, Dr. Salazar stated that having responded to our
appeal he was willing to face the consequences whatever they
might be, but that, in view of the present state of
Portuguese defences, he would prefer that Portugal should
not be drawn in as an active belligerent if that could be
avoided. He hoped that any staff talks would be conducted
with that consideration in mind. He also stated that
Portuguese susceptibilities would not admit of the cession
of bases under any form of lease, and that he would probably
desire Portuguese forces to remain in a defensive capacity.
These views are in accordance with our own.
- 4. Arising out of this, Dr. Salazar said that under no
circumstances could he agree to admit forces other than
British, except perhaps in the event of Portugal becoming
fully involved in the war. He would, however, not object to
fuelling facilities being given to warships and merchant
vessels of the U.S.A. and of other United Nations, as convoy
arrangements would obviously make it inconvenient to
restrict such facilities only to the British. In view of the
fact that the approach to the Portuguese was made on the
basis of the treaties of alliance, I hope you will agree
that we should conclude an agreement with the Portuguese on
the lines desired by Dr. Salazar. I think that at a later
stage, if it became necessary, it should be possible to
secure Portuguese assent to the use of the facilities by the
forces of other of the United Nations. In this connection,
Harriman gave me a message on June 24 that you thought it
would be useful if Brazil could be associated with Lifebelt and perhaps station
troops in Bracken. I am sure that in view of the statements
made to our Ambassador at Lisbon by Dr. Salazar, it would be
very difficult to secure Portuguese consent to such a
proposal, and that it would jeopardize the success of the
negotiations if we were to try to persuade them to accept
other than British forces. I should not, therefore, like to
have to raise this matter with the Portuguese at this
time.
- We have now proposed to Dr. Salazar that immediate
discussions should be opened between experts on both sides,
and our delegation will leave for Lisbon very soon.”
