Minister,

If you'll pardon the suggestion, it might behoove you to dispatch Mr. Macmillan to Portugal in person, with one or two of my own employees to serve as his aides. He is in a unique position to understand the finesse of international relations (due to his previous post within my own department) while bringing with him the gravitas of the Minister's own office.

Regardless, please find attached a drafted memo to my Portuguese counterpart; I will have it dispatched in haste with your approval.