853B.7962/6–1847: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Portugal
428. Referring to Dept’s note of May 22 outlining our proposed negotiations with Portugal Brit Emb has given Dept note substance as follows:
“It is understanding of HMG that US proposals are substantially those contained in memo from Byrnes to Bevin of 19 Aug 19461 and that no new requirements are now under consideration. On this understanding, HMG are prepared to instruct their Ambassador Lisbon to support US approach to Port Govt if he should be asked to do so by his US colleague or if he should be consulted by Port Govt.
HMG wishes also to make clear that their support of US proposals will be given on understanding that facilities for which US is asking are not exclusive, i.e. that nothing in any arrangement which US may make with Port Govt would prevent HMG should an emergency arise, [Page 1024] from seeking such military facilities in Azores as they might consider necessary for protection Brit military interests.
Finally HMG attach importance to Brit participation in any mixed commission set up to supervise upkeep of two airfields in accordance with Point 4 of US proposals. It is hoped that US Ambassador at Lisbon may be instructed to include proposal for Brit participation in mixed commission in his approach to Port Govt.”
We have assured Brit that understandings in first two quoted paragraphs above are correct and have given assurance that we have no objection in principle Brit participation mixed commission. We said that since functions of mixed commission would be developed during course negotiations we would find appropriate time take up this point with Portuguese. However, we said in initial stages we would prefer not to introduce this additional factor as it might seem to relate our approach to long-term base question which we wished to avoid.
Brit Emb cabling our assurances FonOff with recommendation that Brit Amb Lisbon be given appropriate instructions promptly.
- Not printed. Ernest Bevin, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and Secretary of State James F. Byrnes were at that time attending the Paris Peace Conference.↩