Statements of Count Tovar, indicating Captain Agostinho Lourenço, Director of the PVDE, Pedro Teotónio Pereira, Ambassador in Madrid, and Armando Lopo Simeão, functionary of the Consular Section, as witnesses for the prosecution.
Archives
Spain alters its status in the War to nonbelligerent|14 Jun. 1940 |The Germans enter Paris
9 Jul. 1940
Telegram from the Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, to the MNE informing his return to Lisbon as ordered.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection Telegrams received Bordeaux)
5 Jul. 1940
Draft decree placing Aristides de Sousa Mendes out of duty due to service reasons.
(published in D.G. Official Journal of 27 July 1940)
(AHD – Disciplinary Proceedings against Aristides de Sousa Mendes)
4 Jul. 1940
Order by the Foreign Minister, Oliveira Salazar, bringing disciplinary proceedings against the Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, and appointing the Consul General, Francisco de Paula Brito, as Instructor.
(AHD – Disciplinary Proceedings against Aristides de Sousa Mendes)
2 Jul. 1940
Telegram nº 189 sent from the MNE to the Portuguese Minister in London on the problem of the increasing number of refugees arriving in Portugal: “The question of the foreign refugees in Portugal will easily become complicated and is already a serious problem, which cannot be allowed to get worse, despite all our good will. The entry of members of the Belgian and Luxembourg Governments was authorized with a prior declaration on arrival at the border that we were taking them in on an individual basis […] Political and intellectual refugees […] are among the least desirable on account of the activities they will want to carry out. Furthermore their number would require prior security and the possibility of immediate embarkation for another country, as our accommodation capacity is full. All visas granted in Bordeaux were done in strict contravention of express instructions from the MNE by a Consul whom I have already recalled”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams sent London)
2 Jul. 1940
Telegram nº 19-A from the Portuguese Minister in France to the MNE informing that it was said in diplomatic circles that the German troops had reached San Sebastian and that it was estimated that five German divisions had passed through Bordeaux on the way to the border.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams received France)
1 Jul. 1940
Report by Armando Lopo Simeão on his special mission to Bayonne.
(AHD – Disciplinary Proceedings against Aristides de Sousa Mendes)
30 Jun. 1940
Telegram nº 17-A from the Portuguese Minister in France to the MNE on the actions of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, communicating “said Consul guaranteed that there was absolutely no foundation for the complaints submitted to you”, and requesting that he be heard on the facts.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams received France)
30 Jun. 1940
Report by the Director General of Economic and Consular Affairs, Count Tovar, on the irregularities committed by the Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, when granting visas. Contains a dispatch from the Foreign Minister, Oliveira Salazar, dated 4 July 1940, ordering the initiation of disciplinary proceedings.
(AHD – Disciplinary Proceedings against Aristides de Sousa Mendes)
27 Jun. 1940
Telegram nº 283 from the Portuguese Ambassador in London to the MNE conveying the request of the Polish Ambassador there to grant visas to about 1 000 Poles “of pure race” on the French border who had asked our Consul for visas to go to Portugal and heard that these had been declared invalid by orders from Lisbon.
(AHD – Disciplinary Proceedings against Aristides de Sousa Mendes)
26 Jun. 1940
Telegram nº 104 from the Portuguese Ambassador in Madrid to the MNE conveying a request from the British Ambassador there to aid in the evacuation of 900 British nationals in France via Portugal.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams received Madrid)
25 Jun. 1940
Telegram nº 101 from the Portuguese Ambassador in Madrid to the MNE recounting his mission to France (Bayonne), describing the chaotic situation of refugees at the border and informing that all visas granted by Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux had been declared invalid.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams received Madrid)
24 Jun. 1940
Telegram nº 66 sent by the Foreign Minister to the Portuguese Embassy in France, ordering the immediate return to Portugal of the Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux, Aristides de Sousa Mendes.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams sent France)
23 Jun. 1940
Telegram from Lopo Simeão – special envoy to Bayonne – to the MNE saying in view of circumstances cannot go to Bordeaux and informing that the Spanish Consul in [Bayonne] “said that if Portuguese Government did not punish Bordeaux Consul immediately it would not be able entirely to disclaim responsibility for these acts that should be considered abuse of power. Unusually tragic circumstances may justify act of madness of said functionary or any other”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams received)
22 Jun. 1940
Telegram nº 65 sent from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in France (Bordeaux) communicating that the Consul in Bordeaux must be told that “he is strictly forbidden to issue visas or passports. Exit visas from France to Portugal to be issued by Consul in Bayonne”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams sent France)
22 Jun. 1940
Telegram from the Portuguese Consul in Bayonne to the MNE informing about the orders received personally from Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux, to grant free transit visas in all passports.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams received)
21 Jun. 1940
Telegram nº 179 sent from the MNE to the Portuguese Embassy in London informing that the number of foreigners requesting entry into Portugal is growing every day and that the British Ambassador “has requested with disturbing urgency a collective visa for 2 000 English who wish to leave France for Portugal to sail for England or overseas”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams received)
20 Jun. 1940
Telegram nº 62 sent from the MNE to the Portuguese Legation in France (Bordeaux) communicating the complaint by the British Embassy in Lisbon and alluding to “violations verified against instructions sent Consul” and ordering the Portuguese Minister in France to “call Consul, demand a complete explanation, and adopt …prompt and energetic measures”.
(AHD – Cipher, Collection of Telegrams sent France)
20 Jun. 1940
Memorandum from the British Embassy in Lisbon to the MNE casting suspicion on the Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, having charged special rates “for Portuguese charity” when issuing visas.
(AHD – Consular Administration Department, R.C. – 779)
14–21 Jun. 1940
Register of Visas granted by the Portuguese Consulate in Bordeaux which shows that on 15 June the entries are made with full compliance with registration rules and that after 22 June the visas no longer have names attached to them, with a note saying that “visas nº 2763 to 2850 were issued by the Consul after working hours”.
(AHD – Bordeaux Consulate, L.2)
14 Jun. 1940
Telegraphic circular nº 23 from the MNE to the diplomatic Missions containing instructions on the issue of visas in passports: “as a general rule all requests should be addressed directly by the Consulates to the PVDE”, “all special cases” being reserved for the MNE.