File No. 763.72/3266
The Chargé in Brazil ( Benson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 9, 1.30 a.m.]
Further to my February 5, 2 p.m. I have to-day received from the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs a reply to this Embassy’s note of the 5th instant transmitting the information contained in the Department’s circular telegraphic instruction of February 3, 1 p.m. In the first two paragraphs of this note the Minister for Foreign Affairs thanks the Embassy for the communication and repeats the information therein contained, and then goes on as follows:
I desire to hereby confirm my verbal conversation with you, in which I had occasion to state that the Brazilian Government, in response to the note which it received from the Government of Germany announcing the blockade of the coast of the enemy countries, declared that, for various reasons, it would not recognize this blockade as effective, and protested against it and its consequences.
On these grounds, the Government of Brazil will place upon the Government of Germany the responsibility for all incidents in connection with Brazilian citizens, merchandise, and ships, when it shall be verified that the recognized principles of international law, or of conventional obligations between Brazil and Germany shall have been disrespected.1
- Translation corrected to accord with the text later received by pouch (File No. 763.72/3469).↩