Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-08-26
Lisbon Seeks
ToLift Azores
Bases Terms

Portugal has handed the
United States q memorandum
that indicates negotiations for
q renewal Of United States
bases In the Azores will be long
and difficult, informed sources
said today.
Under terms Of a renewed
lease Of 1857, the United States
must withdraw from its huge
Lagens base and the Santa
Maria standby base within six
months after December 81 of
this year If no ne wagreement
Is reached. The United States
has spent 500 million on the
bases.
High Portuguese officials said
the memorandum proposes an
agenda Of items Portugal wants
to discuss at the time negotia-
tons for the Azores renewal
agreement come up.
Once friendly relations soured
when the United States sup
ported United Nations criticism
of Portuguese colonial policy in
Africa. They deteriorated fur
Their when the United States
stood aloof as India seized the
Portuguese enclave Of Goa.
Contents Not Known
Portuguese officials refused
to disclose what the proposed
agenda contained. 1t is believed
to include a request for greater
United States understanding
if not supporter Portugal's
posting in combating U. N.
efforts to force this country to
abandon its African territories.
United States Embassy sourc-
eS said Ambassador Charles
Burke Elbrick will fly to WASH
ington shortly to confer with
the State Department on the
various questions raised in the
Portuguese memorandum.
One Portuguese Official said !:
In response to suggestions
from Secretary Of State Rusk
(who visited Lisbon June 81
28 and in accordance with a
new approach by the two gov
ernmentS. an agenda has been
submitted by Portugal. This
includes all outstanding prob
lens Of a bilateral interest
which the Portuguese have de-
clared themselves ready to dis
cuSS.
1T is now up to the United
States Government to make
the next move in response to
this agenda. in which we have
shown on our side a high de-
gree OF understanding and flex-
Utility. We hope the Americans
will match this"
This was the first direct con-
firmation that Portugal had
replied to the American re-
quest-made through formal
channels a week before Mr..
Rusk's visit to Portugal-for
negotiations for a renewal of
the Azores base agreement.
Efforts Failed
The officials statements in
dictate the United States failed
in its efforts to persuade Por-
tugal to negotiate a renewal Of
the base agreement separately
from a discussion of political
and other problems involving
the two countries.
A United States Embassy
source was reluctant to discuss
the situation beyond saying
conversations on matters of
mutual interest between our
two governments are a contin-
uing process"
In the past Portugal refused
direct rental for the bases, call
ing them its contribution to the
North Atlantic Treaty Organi-
zation.
There have been recent sug-
gestions that now that Premier
Antonio de Oliveira Salazar's
regime needs both economic
and political support. it will de-
mand both as the price for a
new agreement with the United
States.
Ill feeling against the Ken
nedy administration continues
here. But official circles be-
lieve q solution will be reached
on the various problems-in-
GLIDING an extension of the
Azores agreement-th though II
will likely take q long time.
Despite friction at govern
ment level, relations between
the Portuguese military and
i their American cniiratar.,aa i.f G