832.34/213: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil ( Morgan )

92. Your 97, December 1, 11 a.m. The Department advised the Brazilian Ambassador that in view of the provisions of Article 18 of the Washington Naval Treaty7 which provides that “each of the Contracting Powers undertakes not to dispose by gift, sale or any mode of transfer of any vessel of war in such a manner that such vessel may become a vessel of war in the Navy of any foreign power”, this Government could not comply with Brazil’s request to sell it two light fast cruisers. He was furthermore informed that Article 11 of the London Naval Treaty8 provides that the rules for disposal contained in Annex 2 and Part 2 of the said Treaty shall be applied to all vessels of war to be disposed of. The provisions regarding the removal of armaments and mutilation of boilers, et cetera, set forth in section 5 of Annex 2 of the London Naval Treaty regarding vessels retained for training purposes was also called to his attention.

Stimson