853B.7962/8–2047: Telegram
The Ambassador in Portugal (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
654. Saw Dr. Salazar for hour and half this evening. Gave him our formula and fullest background. He told me that he understood our difficulty in supplying civilian personnel and seemed to accept idea that any new agreement would permit ATC to remain on. During whole discussion Dr. Salazar never mentioned question of wearing uniforms and seemed to attach no particular importance to question.
Dr. Salazar stated that he was mistrustful of over-rapid intelligence of his own people and of possible over-confidence in their ability to take over technical aspects of aviation. Nevertheless, they had made considerable progress and the passage of planes through Lisbon exceeded in number those transiting Lagens. He wanted therefore to approach new agreement on basis factual determination of what responsibilities the port authorities could assume now and, on basis of further preparations, at a later date.
He insisted that he attached the greatest importance to collaboration between the United States and Portugal; that he would work with US with complete good will; and that he had no thought of any kind of ulterior motives or hidden designs on our part.
I mentioned to him the date line of September 2 and that the mechanism for withdrawal would then have to be put in motion, explaining that this would involve considerable work and some confusion. He replied that we could disregard the September 2 date line. He then mentioned December 2. I queried him closely on this so that there would be no misunderstanding. It ended up by his saying that if agreement was not reached promptly, and he implied that no new agreement would be forthcoming immediately, that we could have one month, or two or three or four months or—with sweeping gesture of hand—whatever was necessary during which time we could carry on as usual; he was not approaching the question in any narrow spirit. [Page 1037] I am asking Colonel Tibbets to request appointment with Minister War to repeat foregoing, in order to make absolutely sure that there is no misunderstanding.
Dr. Salazar spoke with great appreciation of the manner in which the American authorities had complied with agreement and with their commitments, of absence of incidents, and of cordiality which characterizes American-Portuguese relations at Lagens. I told him of General Huglin’s1 availability to advise me on technical matters. He replied that he did not think it would be necessary for the General to come for the present, perhaps not at all. I told him, nevertheless, that the General would remain alerted and requested Dr. Salazar to inform me whenever it might be timely for the General to come. He promised to do this.
In our conversation I suggested to Dr. Salazar that we take a trip together to Lagens and look the place over. He sidestepped quickly but amiably.
I got impression from Dr. Salazar’s remarks that he wishes to await the return of Caeiro da Mata (now scheduled for early September) before proceeding further with matter.
The way things now appear to stand is that we have reached an agreement on broad question of principle that the technical details must be worked out on a factual basis and that further conversations will be with Foreign Office and not with Dr. Salazar.
- Brig. Gen. Harold Q. Huglin, Deputy Commander of Air Transport Command.↩