763.72119/3401

The Brazilian Chargé ( Moreira ) to the Acting Secretary of State

My Dear Mr. Polk : I beg you to allow me to refer again to the subject of the representation of Brazil at the Preliminary Peace Conferences, which Mr. da Gama is so anxious to obtain through your valuable intercession.

On December 3rd. I received a confidential cable instructing me to tell to Mr. Lansing that it would be a general disappointment in Brazil if we will not be represented at the Preliminary Conferences. [Page 235] Mr. Stabler 8 was kind enough to transmit this message, from Mr. da Gama, to Mr. Lansing on the eve of his departure for Paris.

On the 7th. you were good enough to receive me and I had the honor to transmit to you another message from my Minister for Foreign Affairs saying that he was hoping that you would obtain that Brazil should be invited at the Preliminary Conferences, this helping considerably our Government which public opinion deemed careless in the matter. You were so kind as to cable to Colonel House transmitting the desire of my Government.

Yesterday I received a cable from Rio reading:

“Transmit to Mr. Polk following. Am requesting your intercession to obtain that Brazilian Delegation composed for be accepted at Peace Congress, its members were appointed when plans of Great Powers were not known and we could wait no longer on account of distance and public political pression [pressure?]. Kindly speak Ipanema. Best regards. (Signed) Gama.”

His Excellency adds that I must tell you that we deem of great importance not seeing denial given to our Delegates to appear at the Conferences bearing in mind that in the classification of Powers it must also be given a thought to the economical factor and future political interests.

Reducement would be humiliating and produce resentment prejudicial to the harmony of people and ideas in this particularly difficult moment.

I remain [etc.]

A. de Ipanema Moreira
  1. Jordan H. Stabler, Chief of the Division of Latin American Affairs, Department of State.