811.34553B/133: Telegram
The Minister in Portugal (Norweb) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 1—3:45 p.m.]
1676. Long, on behalf of Pan American, today sent following letter to Salazar in reply to his letter of May 30, text of which was given in my 1653, May 30, 3 p.m.
“In order to satisfy the request of Your Excellency for an early reply, Pan American wishes to declare that it is ready to carry out at once, through its technicians, for the account of the Portuguese Government, the studies and work necessary to the elaboration of the plans and estimates for the construction of an aerodrome on the Island of Santa Maria and its presentation to the Government. Pan American has taken note of, and appreciates the intention of Your Excellency to send a Portuguese mission to accompany its technicians during the studies and affirms its desire to establish the most strict collaboration with the members thereof.
Responding to the points appearing in the second page of the communication received we state:
- (a)
- The company proposes to execute the studies, project and estimate at the minimum possible expense. It is having difficulty, however, in fixing the cost in view of diverse unknown elements necessary to its elaboration. Equally it does not appear to be possible for the same reason to fix a percentage of the total estimate, the practice generally followed. Under these circumstances Pan American Airways proposes to effect the referred to studies, project and estimate, for the account of the Portuguese Government for the actual amount expended in its execution.
- (b)
- It is judged that it will be possible to initiate the work on the Island of Santa Maria before the 15th of the current month. For this purpose six technicians coming from the United States will meet at Horta with another technician who will leave Lisbon on June 9 or 10 in an airplane of this company. The Portuguese mission could, should Your Excellency so determine, depart on the same plane.”