611.3231/1038: Telegram
The Chargé in Brazil (Frost) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:20 p.m.]
254. Department’s 163 October 1, 1 p.m.20 The matter of the delay in the approval of the trade agreement was taken up with the Minister [Page 317] for Foreign Affairs today. He assured the Embassy that the delay was exclusively of a bureaucratic nature and that he would immediately take the necessary steps to accelerate approval by the Senate.
In view of the assurances given to the Ambassador by the President of the Chamber of Deputies on September 16 (Embassy’s 234, September 26, 6 p.m.21) a member of the Embassy staff called on him this afternoon and brought his attention to the fact that the agreement is still in committee in the Senate. He appeared to be greatly annoyed at the delay which he also characterized as purely bureaucratic and stated that he would immediately request the leader of the Government majority in the Senate to obtain approval as quickly as possible.
I am convinced that the delay, while irritating, does not signify any vital opposition and that the outcome will soon vindicate the policy of continued patience and persistence.
The matter has been, and is being, closely followed by the Embassy and developments will be reported.