The Norweb Collection - An American Legacy

On his arrival in Lisbon, Norweb cabled the Secretary of State with his understanding of the current state of negotiations, saying that if an agreement in principle could be reached with Salazar, the US. would still face" ... the usual Portuguese proclivity for horse trading over details" Norweb felt that Salazar feared a German attack if he should give the US. what they wanted, and said that Salazar believed that the only effective Allied presence in Europe was Russian, implying that neither America or Britain could defend Portugal in the event of German bombing raids. Additionally, Salazar had raised the possibility that, if he conceded bases to America, Germany might prevail upon Spain for bases in the Balearic Islands. When Norweb replied to Salazar that the US. felt this tobe very unlikely, Salazar stated " ... one could never tell about Spaniards, who were capable of doing the most surprising things at the most unexpected moments"

George Kennan left Lisbon in December. Norweb cabled the Secretary on December 2, outlining Salazar's position on the issue as follows. No US. bases would be granted while Portugal was a neutral; no further bases would be allowed to the British until the war was going better for the Allies and a German threat to Portugal was unlikely; US. planes could use British bases in the Azores as long as they bore British markings and at least one of their aircrew was British; and US. army engineers could build an air base for Portugal's account on Santa Maria Island, its future use being left open for now. Norweb wrote "To us, this means that we have gotten not only the camel's head but a large portion of his remaining anatomy into the tent, and I think we should exploit this opening to the utmost"

1794 Silver Dollar

Early Silver Dollars