Evening star., 1941-12-07
By HENRY J. TAYLOR.


By Radio TO The Star and MANA.
LISBON. Dec. 5.-Dr. Antonio de
Oliveira SalaZar, Premier of Portu-
gal, gave this correspondent tonight
the first interview he has granted
any American or European CORE
spondent in nearly 10 years. In ali
Europe there is no chief of state
more inaccessible. nor one whose
personality is less revealed to people
abroad.
1t is an assumed fact in Europe
that this secluded statesman. an
eminent scholar. an economist and
b humanitarian of high reputation in
intellectual circles everywhere. may
some day be one of the few accept
able mediums through whom the ul-
innate readjustments can be &C
complished in Europe.
Even today DR.. Salazar stands as
the one man. amid all the European
tensions and ahgnments, who has
the equal and absolute confidence
of Eastern, Central and Western Eu-
rope, Scandinavia and the Balkans
alike.
Visits Immense Palacio.
I was escorted to the immense
white Palacio de San Bento. where
the legislature meets. 1t was de-
serted except for two guards at the
door and a sentry. was ushered
into an elevator. taken to the second
floor and through series of rooms
to a beautifully paneled reception
room. Premier SalaZar received me
at once in his official quarters,
large suite with magnificent tapes
tried walls.
I did not find him stern or for
bidding in the least. He has a quiet
manner of serenity. youthful smile.
soft eyes which only now and then
look little tired and extraordinar-
ily graceful hands, which he con-
stantly folds and unfolds as he
speaks.
For nearly two hours DR.. Salazar
took me through the complications
of the whole European situation.
Time and again he would touch on
its darkest aspects and then tighten
his conclusions by an encouraging
parallel, drawn from his immense
fund of European history. He spoke
of the United States with great
familiarity and referred often to
the lates news from the capitals of
the world.
Effects Of Stoppage.
told him that I had just heard
the announcement from Washing
ton, released here today, that after
January Is no export licenses would
be granted to number of foreign
countries. including Portugal. and
asked his permission to quote him
directly in answer to my question
as to what effect this stoppage of
American imports would have on
his country. DR.. SalaZar authorized
this statement:
I'VE are marginal importing ma
ton. and the effects of this policy
would be extremely serious and un-
fortunate for my people. Unlike any
other country in Continental Eu-
rope. except Spain. our seacoast is
at present open to the United States
and most of the things we need are
available to us from no place else
in the world. In the case Of wheat,
for example, our maximum produc-
ton is sufficient for seven or eight
months minimum consumption and
we must import the marginal four
or five months supply from the
United States.
This is likewise true of petroleum,
for which we are absolutely depend
ent in full on America. All our
industry and most of our trans
portation, including the distribution
of foodstuffs. depend on American
oil shipments. Portugal cannot
maintain herself without them. 1t
is impossible TO overstate the i'm
portance of this matter to the eco
nomic and social life of my country.
I'VE need very little, but what
ve need is needed very badly. We
have large dollar balances in the
United States. which we placed
there long ago. We have always
paid for every transaction immedi-
ately with these and we are fully
prepared to do so in the future. I
deeply hope that this policy toward
Portugal may be reconsidered in
Washington at once"
Copyright, 194l0