EXTREME SECRECY

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

EXTREME SECRECY

Recent Negotiations

(British Oflici-1 Wireless.) RUGBY. October 12. When ports in the Azores are used under the agreement announced with Portugal, British warships will not be obliged to quit within the usual 24 hours allowed by a neutral to a belligerent, lhe same considerations will apply to aircraft escorting convoys and patrolling sea routes. It is pointed out that the British Government considered the mojnent to be ripe for the implementation on behalf or the cause of all the United Nations ot their long-standing alliance with lortugal. The agreement was negotiated m recent weeks with the Portuguese Prune Minister, Dr. Salazar, by the British Ambassador, Sir Ronald Hugh CampbellThe United Slates Government was fully consulted, and is in accord with the steps taken. In fact, the event concerns the United States perhaps more than any other of the United Nations, since its object is to improve the security of American traffic on a route which is under the protection of the British fl nu American navies. The Soviet Government was also kept informed of the negotiations, but the circumstances were not considered, to be such as to call for consultation with Russia, as the project was one which could not fail to 'be of advantage to all the Allies. . , „ t It is stated that both the Portuguese relations with Spain and the British attitude toward the Spanish Government remain unaffected by. this important and valuable development. It is understood that the Portuguese Government by virtue of its treaty obligations with Spain, informed the Spanish Government of the agreement. . Till Mr. Churchill announced m the Commons that Britain had been-granted the use of air and naval bases in. the Azores, no inkling of the negotiations had reached the outside world, says.the Press Association. The negotiations were in progress for several weeks, in circumstances of extreme . secrecy, between representatives of Britain and Portugal.