Evening star., 1941-07-16
RuffIed Portuguese
Feelings Smoothed
By WeNes' Remarks
Relations With America
Strained Recently by
Leaders Speeches
BY GEORGE WELLER,

ny OEOHHE WELLEk,
Foreign Correspondent Of 'rhe Star and
Chicsso Daily News
LISBON, July 10 Portuguese
feelings, ruffled by recent American
declarations including the Azores
within the zone vital to Atlantic
operations. were noticeably smoothed
today following Undersecretary of
State Sumner Welles' statement
that the United States recognized
Portugal's sovereignty over the
Islands as incontestable and de-
sired its continuance.
Mr.. Welles' words were carried in
most prominent front page posi-
ton in all Lisbons newspapers.
Particular Importance was laid on
the State Department spokesman
expressing satisfaction that Portu-
gal was ready 10 guard her own
coast line and the Cape Verdes.
1t is perhaps not generally recog-
ni7ed in the United States TO what
degree the good relations between
America and Portugal have been
strained by public speeches in the
United States discussing the strate-
gic importance of the Azores. Re-
marks of both Senator Pepper
Democrat. of Florida and of Presi-
dent Roosevelt regarding the islands
which emphasized chiefly the
American interest therein-Were re-
ceived with GOODNESS, which rapidly
was turning into frigidity until Mr.
Welles statement dissipated the
differences.
Articles Strain Relations.
Portugals sentiments toward the
United States have been further
strained by articles in two Ameri-
can magazines of large circulation
describing Lisbon's role as center
of refugee traffic.
In adopting a permanent policy
toward Portugal 1t seems to Ameri-
can observers here that the United
States must recognize two broad
principles:
First. since the Azores and Cape
Verde are interdependent in a stra-
tegic sense with the Portuguese
mainland. over declarations that
the United States includes or plans
later to include, these territories
within its zone of operations are
likely to be followed by similar
statements or plans on the part of
other hostile overs with regard
to the Iberian Peninsula in general
and Portugal in particular. In this
way. Portugal is unnecessarily ex-
posed to the danger of becoming
a pushball between the forces. No
Portuguese wants the Norwegian
tregedy repeated in his homeland.
The other principle 1t is be-
lieved deserves recognition is that
Portugal has been given without
seeking it the same role of a small
neutral power between hostile
forces as Switzerland was delegated
in the last war and has acquitted
herself ably and honestly therein.
Importance to Increase.
In any future struggle in the At
lantic, Portugal's importance as
meeting place of hostile interests is
likely to increase rather than dimin-
ish. Under the circumstances it
seems imprudent to allow American
relations with this trans Atlantic
Switzerland to deteriorate through
declarations more fortnight than
any vouchsafed by Axis spokesmen.
American observers here believe
that our spokesmen henceforward,
when discussing Atlantic policy.
must make a distinction between
methods of discussing openly prob
lens like Iceland. whose protection
was taken over after the conquest of
the mother country, and problems in
volving the Azores and the Cape
Verdes. In the first case. the United
States is addressing a small power
which is already captive; in the sec
ond. the nation is still fully inde-
pendent. Strategically. the problems
may seem to resemble each other,
but politically the second is far more
delicate and calls for sensitive nego-
tiation
tCopyrisht. 1871. Chicago Daily News In,)