853M.6363/28: Telegram

The Consul General at Loanda, Angola (Linnell) to the Secretary of State

37. Department’s 28, February 2, midnight. My British colleague and I called on the Governor General and told him the United States could not give oil to Angola for “enemy nationals” as defined in General Ruling number 11. The Governor was much chagrined and reiterated that this was an unfriendly attitude for the United States to take and an infringement of Portugal’s sovereignty. He thought the small amount of oil products saved could not affect the war and could not justify their [un]friendly attitude toward a neutral nation.

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Enforcement of distribution restrictions will have to be accomplished through oil companies’ agents and my British colleague and I believe this can be done.

An oil specialist could doubtless decide here whether further supplies should be given various oil companies, but unless he knew Portuguese and a knowledge of the country and its industries and their special needs and covered entire colony by car (which is very difficult) he would only form his judgments upon data given him by oil companies’ agents.

Please note in this connection that stocks of oil petroleum products now in Angola except lubricating oils are equivalent to nearly one year’s ordinary consumption. Lubricating oils are stated to be sufficient only to mid-March for railroads and utility companies. Can shipments of lubricating oil be expedited?

Linnell