811.34553B/7–1844: Telegram
The Ambassador in Portugal (Norweb) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 18—5:39 p.m.]
2213. I saw Sampayo this afternoon who handed me the following communication (re Department’s 1974, July 12, 8 p.m.).
“His Excellency, the Ambassador, having manifested more than once the interest of his Government in that the Portuguese Government might grant a desire of the ‘British Coastal Command’ relative to an American Naval Air Squadron for long-range anti-submarine combat at night, you are informed that the Government now reviewing the problem in the light of new explanations presented has resolved to grant that request.
- 2.
- In the communication made to the Embassy of his British Majesty at Lisbon, the Government noted that the matter referred to a squadron which forms an integral part of the ‘British Coastal Command’ and which in the terms of the understanding between the General Staffs is loaned to the British Government and operates under the command of a British officer and from a base under British control.
- 3.
- Furthermore you are informed that the planes of the said squadron should use the emblem of the RAF although they may add to this the distinctive emblem of the military aviation of the United States.”