811.34553B/6–2744: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Portugal (Norweb)
1867. Referring to last paragraph of your 1996, June 27,78 Section 4 of CCS paper79 reads as follows:
“In considering Dr. Salazar’s proposal, the Combined Chiefs of Staff have concluded that the most important immediate contribution that Portugal can make in the war against Japan and toward the liberation of Portuguese Timor is to grant, without further delay, those additional facilities requested in the Azores and they urge that favorable action in this matter be expedited.”
Department’s previous messages insisting that Campbell refrain from linking CCS action with Santa Maria project were simply intended to forestall any discussion of this point between Campbell and Salazar, inasmuch as Santa Maria is an American project and British have asked Salazar to handle the matter directly with United States alone. It has never been intended that you yourself will not link CCS decision with Santa Maria or that you yourself will not make full use of Section 4 of CCS action in your further negotiations for American facilities at Santa Maria.
As a matter of fact Section 4 quoted above is perhaps the most important point in CCS paper as far as United States is concerned.
You will note that Section 4 urges that Portugal grant the additional facilities requested in Azores. War Department construes this to mean facilities in addition to those at Lagens. In other words the phrase “additional facilities” used in Section 4 refers primarily to Santa Maria airfield. However, phrase is considered broad enough to include facilities which Navy is seeking.
It is Department’s thought that you and Campbell, acting jointly, will present CCS decision, which speaks for itself. You are requested to obtain an immediate subsequent interview at which time you alone should seek a commitment from Salazar respecting American use and control of Santa Maria airfield. At such time you are authorized very definitely to connect Section 4 of CCS decision with Santa Maria. If, as indicated in last paragraph of your 1996, Salazar should voluntarily introduce this phase when he meets with you and Campbell, it should simply be stated that Section 4 relates to Santa Maria, which calls for direct negotiations between Portugal and United States.
With reference to paragraph 3 of your 1996, CCS decision does not concern itself with facilities in India or Portuguese Africa, and such matters should be omitted from conversations concerning CCS decision.