Office of the Historian

283. Telegram From the Embassy in Portugal to the Department of State0

Lisbon, January 28, 1959, 8 p.m.

273. Your 858.1 Secretary Quarles departed Washington via Lajes this afternoon after 2-day visit in which he had opportunity to discuss mutual defense matters with leading Portuguese and MAAG officials. From standpoint of public relations and ascertaining Port thinking on defense matters visit most successful.

I accompanied Secretary yesterday when he met with Defense Minister.2 Others present this discussion were Minister Army, Minister Navy, Under Secretary Air, Chief Staff Armed Forces, Chief MAAG Adm Petersen. Defense Minister read prepared statement explaining Portuguese requirements vis-à-vis NATO and other commitments (Spain for defense of Pyrenees and Belgium for defense of lower Congo) and taking into consideration great concern defense of their African provinces. He listed main problems as: (a) Reorganization SHAPE division, (b) Modernization air defense, (c) Improvement naval forces for protection maritime communications lines especially with overseas provinces.

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Defense Minister made strong appeal for US aid in solving these problems and for integration of air defense Iberian Peninsula. Said that Portugal prepared to make all necessary concessions to US and Spain to achieve that integration.

Quarles said that, while sympathetic consideration would of course be given to Portuguese requests, important that we be realistic on both sides. Said that Defense Minister projects appear ambitious and we must always endeavor keep our programs on practical level.

Said he heartily endorsed idea integration air defense Peninsula but matter was somewhat complicated by Spain’s not being in NATO. Agreed study should be given to possibility tripartite arrangement tying in with our communications system in northern Europe.

Comment: Minister’s request involves considerable equipment for all three forces and, while no mention of priority was made, it is probable that due to great preoccupation with defense of colonies stemming from disturbed condition in Africa, particularly in area contiguous to Angola, reequipment of SHAPE division comes last in their thinking. Defense Minister also implied that national funds earmarked for NATO commitments would be diverted to overseas defense if aid not forthcoming. My own impression is that Portuguese took opportunity of Quarles visit to present maximum shopping list and will be pleased if even a small part of their request is eventually fulfilled. As quid pro quo they made it clear they are prepared to grant us any additional facilities we may require in answer.

Despatch with text Defense Minister’s prepared statement and itemization of equipment requested being pouched.3

Elbrick
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 102.202/1–359. Confidential. Repeated to Madrid.↩
  2. Telegram 858 to Lisbon, January 15, requested reports on Deputy Secretary of Defense Quarles’ conversations with local officials. (Ibid., 102.202/1–1559) Quarles began an eight-nation European tour on January 8 to discuss military assistance.↩
  3. General Julio Botelho Moniz.↩
  4. Despatch 351 from Lisbon, January 30. (Department of State, Central Files, 102.202/1–3059)↩