President Roosevelt to the President of the Portuguese Council of Ministers (Salazar)8
My Dear Dr. Salazar: Mr. George F. Kennan has been here for a few days and I have seen him just prior to his departure. He will tell you what I have emphasized to him in regard to shortening the war and saving lives by American, as well as British, use of Terceira and Horta facilities.
But may I take this opportunity to remind you of a story with which you are familiar. In 1918, when I was the Under Secretary of the Navy, I went to Horta and to Ponta Delgada, in both of which ports the Allies were using repair, fueling and anti-submarine facilities. In fact, in Ponta Delgada the American Navy had a full-fledged base of operations—and very many of our ships used the harbor at Ponta Delgada for our fueling and repairs.
In those days there was never any question about the good faith of the United States in carrying out their pledge that as soon as possible after the war the bases would be dismantled and the shore batteries abandoned. I personally inspected everything and the relationship at that time between Portugal and the United States was on a basis of mutual confidence and great friendship. In 1919 all of our forces were withdrawn, and I am inclined to think that the use of these two places by us did much for the economic good of the people of the Azores.
I do wish that I could have a chance to see you one of these days because I want to talk to you about another matter—the furtherance of cultural relations between the United States and Portugal and Brazil. In other words, a closer association between the three nations [Page 565] in regard to an improved status after the war is over. I do not need to tell you that the United States has no designs on the territory of Portugal and its possessions. I am thinking in long range terms because I do not think that our peoples have been in close enough touch in the past.
Very sincerely yours,
- Copy obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY.↩