841.34553B/15

The British Embassy to the Department of State

Aide-Mémoire

Certain arrangements of detail arising out of the agreement signed at Lisbon on August 17th require early coordination between His Majesty’s Government and the United States Government. These arrangements concern in particular security questions and the positions of Consuls and other foreign nationals in the territory concerned.

2.
As regards Consuls, His Majesty’s Government understand that [Page 544] United States Government do not wish any special arrangements to be made on behalf of their Consular Officers in the area in question.
3.
In addition to closing of foreign Consulates, it has been decided to remove all foreigners living in Terceira and Fayal, and to subject all foreigners living in other islands of the group to strict measure of control. It has, however, been agreed that all British and United States nationals belonging to an essential public service such as that operated by Pan American Airways at Horta, and any other British or United States nationals on a list to be supplied by His Majesty’s Consuls to the Portuguese military authorities, shall be exempted from these measures. It is understood that the only United States nationals involved, other than Consular officials or employees of Pan American Airways, are Portuguese-Americans of dual nationality, who would in any case be allowed to remain. No United States citizens will therefore in practice be adversely affected by these arrangements.
4.
In connection with security, the following points arise:
(a)
For reasons of operational security His Majesty’s Government hope that the Portuguese Government will agree to postpone any public statement concerning this agreement until 10 to 14 days after the arrival of British forces in the Islands. If the Portuguese Government agree it will be necessary to ensure that no travellers, either by ship or air, should reach any point outside the Islands if they have been in the area at any time during this period of 10 to 14 days. If necessary shipping and air service time tables will have to be adjusted accordingly. The Embassy would be glad to discuss with the State Department what action will be necessary to secure this, on the assumption that the Portuguese Government agree to postpone a public announcement.
(b)
It will be necessary during the period referred to in (a) above that the Pan American Airways radio transmitter in the area should cease to operate. The Portuguese authorities will themselves issue the necessary instructions locally, but as Pan American Airways operate under the United States Navy Department it seems desirable that the Pan American Airways representatives at Horta should be advised, by message sent by cable immediately before the arrival of the convoys conveying the British forces, to acquiesce in the instructions issued by the Portuguese authorities. It is hoped that the United States authorities will authorise the despatch of this message.
(c)
In order that there may be no leakage of information it would be desirable that United States authorities should impose, as from the end of September, a censorship ban on all reference to operations in the neighbourhood of the Portuguese Atlantic Islands, until such time as the public announcement is made.