Evening star., 1943-10-12
Nation Probably
Will Maintain j
Neutrality y
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, Oct. 12.-Tiny Por-
tugal, Britains oldest ally, has
granted the British antisubma-
rine bases in the Azores Islands
the crossroads of the Atlantic
Prime Minister Churchill an
nounced today, but probably will
remain neutral in the war.
Mr.. Churchill, announcing this
step vastly strengthening Allied abil-
lty to combat resurgent U-boat war
fare, told the House of Commons
that President Roosevelt had been
kept fully Informed of the negotia-
tionS.
The Azores lie 1000 miles west of
Lisbon on the airWays and sea lanes
from Portugal to the United States
"AntlSubmarine bases" would in
clude both harbors for the dispatch
OF naval craft and airports for
planes.
Nazis May Not Act.
Although Portugal has an army of
only 10000 and a negligible air
force, it was considered possible that
the Germans may refrain from hos
tility toward the country in order to
keep open its valuable diplomatic
and spy center in Lisbon.
Amid numerous rumors that the
Portuguese, who now are engaged
in the biggest military maneuvers of
the war, might declare hostilities
against Japan, MIR. Churchill dis
closed that Premier Antonio de
Ohveira Salazar's government had
acceded to a British request for
facilities in the Azores.
No Portuguese declaration of war
against Japan is expected here, how
ever. tThere have been reports of
Portuguese-Japanese dissension over
Portuguese TimorD
While negotiations for opening the
Azores ports to Allied warships have
been kept completely secret, a report
came from Bern early today that
Allied vessels were patrolling off the
Azores and 1t was rumored that
Portuguese bases would be made
available for the duration.
F0TceS 10 be NltnQraWn.
Mr., Churchill told Commons that
all British forces would be with
drawn from the Azores at the end
of hostilities. The Portuguese them
selves have constantly been REIN
forcing the Azores garrison to the
extent of their limited facilities since
the beginning of the war.
The Azores, nearly $500 miles
east Of New York, consist of nine
islands, the most important of which
Is Fayal. The chief city, Horta, is
a transoceanic communications CEN
ter and a stopping point for the
Pan-American Clippers. The islands,
with a total population of about
255,000, are an integral part of the
Portuguese republic and not a
colony.
The immediate effect of Portugars
action was the subject of wide spec
ulation in London. The first and
most important result for the Allies
will be to give them one more valu-
able base from which to combat the
Nazl submarine warfare which
abated this summer but which is
expected to be resumed in full scale
TO beat off the coming Allied in
vasion of the continent.
Protection for Sea Lane.
The Azores will afford added pro-
lection for one of the most vital sea
lanes from the United States to the
future fighting on the continent.
Lying at a crossroads of Atlantic
shipping 1000 miles from Newfound-
land and 1,400 miles from Britain,
the Azores can be used to complete
the air umbrella which was raised
over the Atlantic and drove the
U-boatS to desperate new tactics.
I'm Washington, the State De-
partment issued the following
statement:
t"Wlth reference to the state
,nent made by Prime Minister
Churchill concerning the use of
facilities in the Azores, the
agreement on which the state
ment is based was concluded by
virtue of the ancient Anglo
Portuguese alliance The United
States Government has been in
formed and has approved the
arrangements made.D
The possibility was mentioned in
Commons that the Axis might re-
gard the cession of Portuguese bases
as hostile act. This brought no
response from Mr.. Churchill.
No Frontier with Axis.
Portugal has no land frontier with
the Axis, but its shipping industries
and harbUrs might be opened to
long-range German attack in case
war was declared on her.
Beginning his statement to Com
mons, Mr. Churchill elected loud
and appreciative laughter when he
CSee PORTUGAL, Page A-2)