811.20 Defense (M) Portugal/1549: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Portugal (Norweb)

1654. The Acting Secretary of State made the following announcement to the press June 6:

“The Portuguese Government undertook on June 5 to impose a total prohibition upon the export of wolfram and to bring about an immediate cessation of wolfram production in Portugal.

The action of the Portuguese Government should prove a factor in shortening the war, inasmuch as it will deprive the enemy in Europe of important quantities of a vital war material.

The United States Government has been active in the negotiations which have led up to this satisfactory conclusion in close consultation with the British and Brazilian Governments.”

Stettinius