24 Apr. 1940

Note from the Secretary General of the MNE, Luiz Teixeira de Sampayo, to the Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, again drawing his attention to the irregularities committed in issuing visas and warning him “that any new fault or infraction in this regard will be considered disobedience and give rise to disciplinary proceedings where it will have to be taken into account that you have repeatedly committed acts that merit warnings and reprimands”.

(AHD – Disciplinary Proceedings against Aristides de Sousa Mendes)

22 Apr. 1940

Official letter from the PVDE to the MNE noting that requests from Dutch Jews to enter Portugal have grown considerably, and requesting that bearing in mind the convulsions in Europe, and for the good of public service, consuls in Holland should be advised before requesting authorization to grant visas to scrutinize carefully if these were for Jews, so as to avoid the entry into Portugal of “individuals of that quality”.

(AHD – 2º P., A. 43, M. 49)

18 Mar. 1940

Official letter from the PVDE to the MNE concerning the Spaniard Eduardo Neira Laporte’s non-admission into Portugal, who had a visa issued by the Bordeaux Consulate against instructions issued by the PVDE.

(AHD – Consular Administration Department, R.C. – 779)

16 Jan. 1940

Note from the MNE to the Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux drawing his attention to irregularities committed in issuing a visa to Arnold Wiznitzer and reminding him of the instructions contained in Circular nº 14.

(AHD – Disciplinary Proceedings against Aristides de Sousa Mendes)

Jan. 1940

Copy of a visa request form filled in by the applicant (Bordeaux Consulate).
1940 January

(AHD – Consular Administration Department, 2º P., A. 43, M. 79)

11 Nov. 1939

Circular nº 14 sent to posts abroad “to avoid abuses and loose practices which the Police of Vigilance and Defense of the State (henceforth PVDE) deems inconvenient or dangerous”. Establishes a list of cases where consuls cannot grant consular visas without previously consulting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (henceforth MNE).

(AHD – Consular Administration Department, R.C. 779)