811.34553B/9–1945
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Government have had under consideration the question of the withdrawal of the British forces which have been established in the Islands of Terceira and Fayal in accordance with the facilities granted under the Azores Agreement of 1943.73 Unlike the agreement between the United States and Portuguese Governments relating to the island of Santa Maria,74 which provides for a maximum period of nine months within which United States forces must be withdrawn, the Anglo-Portuguese Agreement lays down no time limit for the duration of the facilities granted to His Majesty’s Government, but when the latter originally approached the Portuguese Government in 1943 an assurance was given that British forces would be withdrawn “at the end of hostilities”. His Majesty’s Government are now anxious to withdraw their forces as soon as practicable and they feel that in any case their occupation of the Islands should not be prolonged beyond a maximum of six months from the date of the end of the war, that is to say, from September 2nd, 1945. It is estimated that the process of withdrawal can in fact be completed within this period. His Majesty’s Government intend, therefore, to inform the Portuguese Government accordingly, adding that they would hope thereafter to enjoy emergency and diversionary rights in the Azores.
- 2.
- In view of the share which the United States forces have had in the facilities accorded to His Majesty’s Government by the Portuguese Government, and since it is understood that the United States [Page 205] forces established in the Azores may be hoping to continue to enjoy the alternative facilities which they now possess on the island of Terceira for as long as they themselves remain established at Santa Maria (that is to say, possibly for as long as nine months after the end of hostilities, which would be three months after the latest date for the British withdrawal from Terceira) His Majesty’s Government wish to inform the United States Government beforehand of their intention.
- 3.
- His Majesty’s Government are anxious to make their communication to the Portuguese Government as soon as practicable, and as they assume that the above arrangements will be convenient to the United States Government, they would propose, unless they hear to the contrary, to send instructions to His Majesty’s Ambassador at Lisbon75 at the end of the current month to approach the Portuguese Government.
- 4.
- The withdrawal of the British forces will of course involve the termination of British responsibility for the air-sea rescue service on the Azores, and His Majesty’s Ambassador at Washington76 has been instructed to enquire whether the United States authorities will be able to take over this service. If so, His Majesty’s Government would be glad to know the date on which the transfer could conveniently be effected.
- For texts of the documents constituting agreements between the United Kingdom and Portugal concerning facilities in the Azores, signed at Lisbon, August 17, 1943, November 28, 1944, and May 30, 1946, see British and Foreign State Papers, 1946, vol 146, pp. 447–452.↩
- For documentation pertaining to efforts of the United States to obtain military privileges in the Azores, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. iv, pp. 1 ff. For texts of agreement and exchanges of notes, signed at Lisbon, November 28, 1944, see Department of State, Treaties and Other International Acts Series No. 2338, or United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, vol. 2 (pt. 2), pp. 2124 ff.↩
- Sir Owen St. Clair O’Malley.↩
- Lord Halifax.↩