811.34553B/64: Telegram
The Minister in Portugal (Norweb) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 25—10:44 a.m.]
228. For Secretary and Matthews. I have just received a communication dated January 24 from Salazar32 thanking me for my recent notes advising him of proximate arrival of personnel and material intended for construction work at Terceira and stating that military authorities had been duly informed. He expresses doubt, however, whether numbers of personnel may not be out of proportion to the work authorized.
He then thanks us for nominating Pan American Airways to study for account of Portuguese Government possibilities of constructing an airfield near Horta and on Santa Maria but states that he has not yet approached the company because “aside from other reasons which it cannot fail to consider” the Government wishes to have survey party accompanied by its own technicians and it is not yet in a position to do this.
In light of somewhat acerb reply to British Ambassador referred to in my 222, January 24, 10 p.m.33 I think we may consider foregoing as a gentle reminder that he does not propose to be hurried by us either.
I have of course explained to Salazar in some detail the urgent reasons underlying our personal needs at Terceira but he apparently remains unconvinced.