811.34553B/125a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Portugal (Norweb)
Washington, May
26, 1944—midnight.
1508. The Department has just received a communication from Navy Department61 expressing the thought that some misunderstanding may have occurred respecting negotiations for Navy squadron, and summarizing following Navy telegrams:
- (1)
- Your Naval Attaché reported on April 28 that Salazar would not consent to our operating squadron without British markings on planes. Navy understood that both American and British marking could be employed.
- (2)
- Navy advised Naval Attaché on April 30 that it approved adding British markings to our own.
- (3)
- Commander Naval Forces Europe on May 7 communicated a report from Admiralty stating that Salazar had asked whether our planes could use both markings, and Navy immediately replied quoting the above decision.
- (4)
- Your Naval Attaché reported on May 19 that Navy’s agreement to both markings had been communicated to you and by you to your British colleague. Naval Attaché expressed opinion that no further action had been taken but he understood from you that definite instructions to your British colleague were required. He thought Campbell was awaiting orders. As you had just been requested to press for Santa Maria your Naval Attaché urgently requested advice about the squadron matter.
- (5)
- On May 21 Commander Naval Forces Europe was instructed by Navy to start such action as he might consider necessary respecting entry into the Azores of double-marked Naval aircraft. Navy had assumed your British colleague was going ahead on the basis of Navy’s concurrence in double-marking as signified to Naval Attaché on April 30.
It is understood that Naval Attaché possesses complete file of the above communications. Please report status of squadron matter.
Hull
- Memorandum received May 24, not printed.↩