811.34553B/7–2244: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Portugal (Norweb)
2067. The Department is very gratified to note in your 2271, July 22, 8 p.m. that Dr. Salazar has no objection to our proceeding at once to land everything required for the preliminary project and the ultimate project we have in mind. This Government is proceeding on the basis of this assurance without awaiting any further interchange. You are authorized to request Mr. Long to submit the desired tender in the amount mentioned in your 2269, July 22, 2 p.m.99 or any other amount you and Long may determine, using the survey report as a general basis. As you know, this Government expects to pay the whole cost. The amount inserted in the tender is therefore considered unimportant. The construction period will be approximately 9 months and it is assumed that payment will be in dollar currency in the United States.
The Department is unwilling to postpone determination of use and control of airfield and feels that Dr. Salazar should continue to be pressed for a satisfactory assurance as to these. We are doing our utmost to satisfy his requirements as to commercial guise in construction enterprise and believe he should be willing to give at least his informal assent now, thereby relieving us of the necessity of proceeding over a period of months against a fundamental doubt. All that is required of Dr. Salazar is his informal, oral recognition of our use and control of the airfield. In this connection please see War Department’s message to Solborg of July 22.1