The US Legation at Lisbon, Portugal sent on 26 June 1917 a telegram No. 113 to the Secretary of State (received midnight 27th) informing that the Portugese Minister for Foreign Affairs last night called and earnestly urged to arrange the purchase by Portugal of 3 tot 6 destroyers from the USA needed for patrolling the Portuguese coast and the protection of the merchant shipping. While Portugel really needed the ships recommended the American minister Birch to consider the request proving the US Navy could spare the ships. The Secretary of State informed on 28th the Secretary of Navy. Birch sent on 23 September 1918 again a cable message referring to his telegram No. 113 and a reply of Mr. Lansing of the Department of State dated 12 July 1917 No. 119 with the text “Navy Department Department states is unable to comply with request as destroyers cannot be spared”. Portugal was still needing the ships and Birch appreciated the necessity for a few additional patrol vessels and recommended earnestly favorable action if that was feasible. The Secretary of State sent on 2 October again the Secretary of the Navy the request for reconsideration. On 21 October 1918 later received the Secretary of State an official decision of the Navy which he transmitted to Lisbon. The Navy fully appreciated the desire of Portugal for an adequate patrol of their coast ‘and would be glad to meet their desires for additional patrol ships if conditions in other areas permitted such assignment. It has been the policy of the Department, however to assign destroyers and other patrol craft to the areas in which submarine activities were the greatest. So far these areas of greatest activity have been the approaches to the waters surrounding the British Isles and to the French Atlantic Coast, and it us to these areas that most of the patrol craft avaliable have beeen assigned.” The Navy however promised however to keep the Portuguese request in mind and if in the future destroyers became available no longer needed in other waters she would reconsider her decision.
Source
Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration Series: Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of Portugal. Military Affairs and the Army: 853.20 - 853.206/7 THRU Naval Affairs, Navy, Naval Vessels: Equipment and Supplies: 853.34 - 853.348. Microcopy 705 roll 13
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