300. Action Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs (Howe) and the Assistant Secretary of State-Designate for European Affairs (Burt) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Eagleburger)1

SUBJECT

  • UK Use of US Facilities at Lajes

ISSUE FOR DECISION

This memorandum recommends that you approve UK use of US facilities at Lajes.

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ESSENTIAL FACTORS

As you know, our agreement with the Portuguese permits third countries to have access to facilities at Lajes subject to GOP approval. In response to a British request, the Portuguese have agreed in principle to permit up to one Nimrod per day to land at Lajes for staging and refueling. The UK will make a written request to the Portuguese for each Nimrod transit.

OSD and JCS concur in the recommendation that we permit UK access to Lajes.

RECOMMENDATION

That you approve UK use of facilities at Lajes for transiting Nimrod aircraft, and that you authorize Jon to so inform the British.2

  1. Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Special Handling Restrictions Memos 1979–1983, Lot 96D262, ES Sensitive May 25–31 1982. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Kanter; cleared by Blackwill. Kanter initialed for both Burt and Blackwill.
  2. Reference is to Howe. Eagleburger initialed his approval of the recommendation.