USE OF AZORES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 16, 14 October 1943, Page 5

USE OF AZORES

Allied Agreement With Lisbon PORTUGUESE TENSE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, October 12. The Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, announced in the House of Commons today that Portugal has granted Britain certain facilities in the Azores Islands, in mid-Atlantic, to enable us to provide further protection for our merchant shipping. Britain will provide Portugal with essential materials and supplies. It is stated in London that the Azores will mean to the battle of the Atlantic what Malta meant to the battle of the Mediterranean. Announcing the Azores agreement, the Prime Minister of Portugal, Dr. Salazar, emphasized that Portugal is determined to maintain her neutrality on the European mainland. He stated that British troops had already disembarked at the Azores.

Lisbon tonight is like a city at war, says the “Daily Mail’s” Madrid correspondent. All precautions have been taken against .possible German reprisals, and everyone is asking: “Will the German bombers come?” The streets have been blacked out, and the A.R.P. organization is in a state of constant readiness.

Excitement is running high throughout Portugal because it is realized that the war may come to the Iberian Peninsula within a matter of hours. A. violent German reaction would certainly involve Spain. There are strong arguments against Germany attacking Portugal. The chief one is that she would lose .valuable supplies of war materials from Portugal, particularly tungsten. The war would also close Lisbon as a centre of the vast German espionage system.

“This is an act of war against Germany which would once have been followed by swift and .terrible re-

prisals,” says the “Daily Mail” in a leader. “The eyes of the Portuguese Government have been opened to the possible consequences of their friendly action, but Portugal may still escape unscathed.”

for shipping in the Atlantic. He trusted that this new proof of Portuguese loyalty to her traditions would fortify the secular alliance and serve to draw still closer the bonds of friendship uniting the two peoples. , ~ Amid the cheers of the House, Mr. Churchill concluded: “I take this opportunity of placing on. record the appreciation of his Majesty’s Government,, which I have no doubt is shared by Parliament and the British nation, of the attitude of the Portuguese Government, whose loyalty to its British ally never wavered in the darkest days of the war.”