811.34553B/7–844: Telegram
The Ambassador in Portugal (Norweb) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:53 p.m.]
2113. Department’s 1848, June 27. Campbell informed me today that Salazar yesterday had stated that he was unable to give a decision on the matter of the Navy squadron. Salazar continued to question the necessity of the squadron in view of Churchill’s recent remarks regarding the easing of the submarine menace. The British Ambassador informs me that he has this morning addressed a letter to Salazar reviewing the recent efforts of the British Embassy to obtain permission for the presence in the Azores of such a squadron with combined markings.
Should a discouraging reply be forthcoming to this letter or if there should be further and obviously delaying tactics I propose (Department’s 1576 June 288) to approach Salazar myself but I prefer not to do so until the Santa Maria matter is further clarified.
- Not printed.↩