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CHAPTER V
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS AFFECTING US SECURITY
From the point of view of US security, the
eventual occupation of Portugal by the armed
importance of Portugal lies mainly in the
forces of that nation could impede US opera-
strategic location of the Atlantic islands, the
tions in the Mediterranean and could make
homeland, and the African colonies. Of fore-
the build-up of US and allied forces in North
most importance are the Azores, which lie on
Africa extremely hazardous and costly. Such
a major sea and air route across the north
an occupation would, moreover, place the
Atlantic. Possession of air and naval bases
USSR in a position to threaten the sea routes
in the Azores would be highly desirable to the
from the UK to Africa. Were this occupation
US in the event of war with the USSR to afford
to be extended to the Azores, sea routes from
protection for US lines of communication and
the UK to South Africa and also to South
to forestall possible attacks on the US from
America would have to be SO greatly altered
such bases.
that shipping to those areas would be seriously
Under the terms of an agreement signed in
affected.
February 1948, Portugal has granted for a
The present political situation in Portugal is
three- to five-year period the use of Lagens air
favorable to US security because of the strong
base in the Azores for US military aircraft sup-
anti-Communism of the government. There
porting the occupation forces in Germany and
is, however, a possible long-range danger that
Japan. Arrangements for the continuation
continued political repression, coupled with
or expansion of this agreement at its expira-
tion are likely because of Portugal's adherence
economic instability, may lead to general un-
to the Atlantic Pact.
rest which would encourage Communist pene-
In continental Portugal there is one first-
tration.
class airfield, as well as terrain adapted for the
Of possible strategic interest to the US are
construction of others, either by expansion of
the substantial Portuguese deposits of tung-
existing fields or by entirely new develop-
sten ore. Some uranium deposits are also
ments. Furthermore, the port of Lisbon is
found in Portugal, but production has been
one of the finest harbors in the world, and is
very limited and the potential development is
close to the Atlantic entrance to the Mediter-
inconsiderable.
ranean. These facilities would be highly im-
portant to the US in support of any military
In terms of US security Portugal's capabili-
operations in or from the Iberian peninsula.
ties are of only minor importance, because of
On the other hand, while it is not an im-
the weakness of its armed forces and its lack
mediate military capability of the USSR,
of military production.
SECRET
29
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"ocrText": "SECRET\nCHAPTER V\nSTRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS AFFECTING US SECURITY\nFrom the point of view of US security, the\neventual occupation of Portugal by the armed\nimportance of Portugal lies mainly in the\nforces of that nation could impede US opera-\nstrategic location of the Atlantic islands, the\ntions in the Mediterranean and could make\nhomeland, and the African colonies. Of fore-\nthe build-up of US and allied forces in North\nmost importance are the Azores, which lie on\nAfrica extremely hazardous and costly. Such\na major sea and air route across the north\nan occupation would, moreover, place the\nAtlantic. Possession of air and naval bases\nUSSR in a position to threaten the sea routes\nin the Azores would be highly desirable to the\nfrom the UK to Africa. Were this occupation\nUS in the event of war with the USSR to afford\nto be extended to the Azores, sea routes from\nprotection for US lines of communication and\nthe UK to South Africa and also to South\nto forestall possible attacks on the US from\nAmerica would have to be SO greatly altered\nsuch bases.\nthat shipping to those areas would be seriously\nUnder the terms of an agreement signed in\naffected.\nFebruary 1948, Portugal has granted for a\nThe present political situation in Portugal is\nthree- to five-year period the use of Lagens air\nfavorable to US security because of the strong\nbase in the Azores for US military aircraft sup-\nanti-Communism of the government. There\nporting the occupation forces in Germany and\nis, however, a possible long-range danger that\nJapan. Arrangements for the continuation\ncontinued political repression, coupled with\nor expansion of this agreement at its expira-\ntion are likely because of Portugal's adherence\neconomic instability, may lead to general un-\nto the Atlantic Pact.\nrest which would encourage Communist pene-\nIn continental Portugal there is one first-\ntration.\nclass airfield, as well as terrain adapted for the\nOf possible strategic interest to the US are\nconstruction of others, either by expansion of\nthe substantial Portuguese deposits of tung-\nexisting fields or by entirely new develop-\nsten ore. Some uranium deposits are also\nments. Furthermore, the port of Lisbon is\nfound in Portugal, but production has been\none of the finest harbors in the world, and is\nvery limited and the potential development is\nclose to the Atlantic entrance to the Mediter-\ninconsiderable.\nranean. These facilities would be highly im-\nportant to the US in support of any military\nIn terms of US security Portugal's capabili-\noperations in or from the Iberian peninsula.\nties are of only minor importance, because of\nOn the other hand, while it is not an im-\nthe weakness of its armed forces and its lack\nmediate military capability of the USSR,\nof military production.\nSECRET\n29"
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