724.3415/994
The Brazilian Ambassador (Gurgél do Amaral) to the Acting Secretary of State60
Aide Mémoire
The Brazilian Government have adopted the invariable method of not assuming in the Bolivian-Paraguayan controversy any ostensible role. The Government are of the opinion that the Brazilian contribution to a pacific settlement of the dispute between the two neighbors will be more efficient as a result of our unassuming attitude in the matter. Such attitude allows Brazil to speak frankly both to Bolivia and Paraguay, as well as to the other intervening friendly countries, with the most perfect cordiality, without even the semblance of any suspicion or giving cause to misplaced interpretations. The Brazilian Government, whenever approached by Bolivia and Paraguay, in informal conversations, have always tried to support the diplomatic action of the United States Government. This has been done recently in conversations with Bolivia.
We deem it proper that our feelings in the matter should be known by the United States Government although we are convinced that any amount of success to which we could be a factor derives precisely from the fact that we do not actually intervene for reasons of neighborhood and on account of recent Treaties, which are well-known, so as to place us entirely without the range of the slightest appearance of urging for ourselves any attitude of evidence.
In bringing our views to the knowledge of the United States Government in an informal conversation, it is our desire, for the sake of historical truth, as well as in a testimony of the friendly interest we attach to the actions of the enlightened and friendly diplomacy of the United States in the pending controversy between Bolivia and Paraguay, to acquaint the Government in Washington with our views and to express that our action, no matter how quiet it has been and in fact is, finds its efficiency in our sincere wishes for the success of the diplomatic action of the United States in the Bolivian-Paraguayan controversy.
- Handed to the Acting Secretary of State by the Brazilian Ambassador, February 10, 1930.↩