President Roosevelt to the Portuguese Prime Minister (Salazar)92
His Excellency Dr. Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, Prime Minister of Portugal. As you have been informed by Ambassador Norweb, we are desirous of constructing an airfield on the Island of Santa Maria to be used by us in connection with our operations in the Pacific Theater. You have seen the report of the survey recently completed and have been good enough to approve the report.
Owing to the weather hazard no further delay is possible and the construction must be proceeded to at once or the project will have to be abandoned.
Bearing in mind the mutual interest of your country and mine I trust that you will authorize the sending immediately to Santa Maria of all the necessary equipment and material for the construction of an airport as contemplated in the survey.
I am sending this urgent request to you by the hand of Mr. Paul Culbertson, Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs of [Page 52] the Department of State,93 whom I recommend to you, and who will explain to you orally the anxiety in which we find ourselves to accomplish the aforesaid purpose.