DAILY SUMMARY - 1946/05/18

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Daily Summary Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02578620
• Document Creation Date: September 11, 2018

Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2578620
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2578620
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2578620
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018
eir SEC
GENERAL
8 MAY 1946
1. US and UK consultations with Arabs and Jews�President Truman has
informed Prime Minister Attlee that the US (a) agrees to the British
suggestion that a month (rather than two weeks) be allowed for consul-
tations with Arab and Jewish representatives regarding the Palestine
report and (b) will communicate with those representatives on 20 May.
The US is organizing an "appropriate group of officials" to study the
report in cooperation with a similar British group but believes that,
except for preliminary discussions, such joint study should follow the
request for the Arab and Jewish views.
80
G. Transfer of 3 Navy camps in Iceland- -Charge Carlson recommends
that the Navy Department make an immediate public announcement of
its planned transfer of three camps in Iceland to the Icelandic Govern-
ment. (The Commandant, Naval Operations Base, Iceland, has received
secret instructions from the Navy Department to abandon two camps
near Reykjavik by 1 July and to close a third camp in Reykjavik by 1
September.)
3. US reply to Salazar on Az_gtm air propaLs--Embassy Lisbon, with
British concurrence, has presented Salazar with a new memorandum
covering the US views on the Azores air bases. The present US posi-
tion is that: (a) the "hypothesis" for cooperation is not fundamentally
a conflict with any particular country, although "adjustments and under-
standings" between the Allies themselves as well as between the Allies
and their former enemies remain to be made (see Daily Summary of 8
May, item I); (b) both the US and Portugal can make an important contri-
bution to world peace by the proposed cooperation against a threat in the
Atlantic; (c) the Azores facilities will be available to the UN Security
Council if Portugal so desires; (d) the proposed arrangement opens the
way for Portugal's participation in maintaining world stability; (e) the
US will not undertake a formal bilateral agreement but would reiterate
Its assurances regarding sovereignty in Portuguese territory; (f) as a
UN member, the US would be immediately concerned by any 'physical"
threat to the security of Portuguese territory; and (g) great benefits
will accrue to Portugal from the proposed arrangement, through the
advanced techniques of the "world's foremost airmen," and the Azores
will become the air "crossroads" of the Atlantic.
Document No. 034
NO CHANGE in Class.
1 - DECLASSIF1LD
Class. CHANED TO: TS S "IS
DDA Memo, 4 i_pr 77
Auth DDA REG. 77/1763
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Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2578620
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018
The US now asks Salazar to draft a statement of a "new hype-
thesis," satisfactory to the Portuguese, and the State Department has
advised Embassy Lisbon that it does not favor a statement by President
Truman as suggested by the US negotiators (see Daily Summary of 14
May, item 1).
EUROPE-AFRICA
4. IRAN: Expted report to Security Council--Ambassador Allen believes
that Iran a will probably report to the Security Council on 20 May that
it is unable to ascertain the facts regarding the Soviet withdrawal, but
(b) will not state clearly that its inability is due to Soviet interference
(see Daily Summary of 17 May, item 6).
Terror continues in Azerbaijan�Consul Rossow reports that
despite the apparent withdrawal of all uniformed Soviet troops from
Azerbaijan, the atmosphere of terror in Tabriz has not changed. The
"Democrat" regime, which is well staffed with Caucasian immigrants
and Soviet military personnel in disguise, is now sufficiently well orga-
nized to maintain terrorist control of the province without open Soviet
assistance.
FAR EAST
6. CHINA: Food situation�Colonel Harrison, head of the Food Fact
Finding Board, reports that starvation is now widespread throughout
Hunan province and also in parts of Kwangsi, Kwangtung, Honan, and
Hupeh -provinces and is causing a substantial number of deaths. Food
distribution is not satisfactory but every effort is being made to convince
the Chinese they. "must distribute only to those actually facing starvation."
Harrison states that food imports must be continued during the balance of
1946 and in 1947 but recommends that UNRRA emphasis be shifted to
equipment required to improve internal transportation and increase food
production.
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2578620
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2578620
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - Historical Programs Staff 30 August 2018
*me'
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8. CHILE: President near death--Ambassador Bowers has informed
the State Department that there Ls "no possible doubt that President
Rios/ illness has reached the lant stage."
Approved for Release: 2018/09/05 CO2578620