832.00 Revolutions/409
The Ambassador in Brazil (Morgan) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 8.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s telegrams No. 110 of September 21, 7 P.M., and No. 111 of September 22, 10 A.M., and to the Department’s telegraphic instruction No. 83 of September 26, 7 P.M., I have the honor to enclose the translation of a memorandum6 which [Page 420] I received yesterday from the Foreign Office and which is an answer to my conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs on September 19th. This memorandum states that on the strength of information supplied by General Gões Monteiro, commanding the Army of the West, the War Department denies that Federal airplanes have bombarded Campinas. It suggests that bombs may have been dropped by Paulista planes flown by aviators on their way to Mogy-Mirim, Amparo and other localities which the Paulista planes have bombarded. The memorandum shifts the responsibility for the bombardments from the shoulders of the Federal Government to those of the São Paulo Government, and, although I am not ready to accept this explanation as a complete one, I have instructed Consul General Cameron to gather testimony as he may be able to secure which will answer the question as to which of the airplane forces are responsible for the bombardments which, although they have not inflicted important material injury, have upset the nerves of the foreign residents not only of Campinas, but of São Paulo and have made them apprehensive of the possibilities before them.
As the Government of São Paulo can no longer expect effective military or political assistance from Minas Geraes or Rio Grande do Sul, as the Federal troops are concentrating toward the Center from which Paulista energy is exercised, and as the Paulista cause becomes increasingly desperate, that Government is renewing its attempts to obtain foreign recognition, if not active intervention, and is attempting to create a situation which will lead foreign colonies, whose nerves have been shaken by the bombardment of Campinas, at least to ask their Governments to station men-of-war in Brazilian waters to afford protection in case of need. Upon receiving a copy of Consul General Cameron’s telegram to the Department of September 27, 12 Noon, however, I advised the Department that I did not consider it necessary that American men-of-war should be within call of Santos. At present the British sloop, Scarsborough, is in Rio de Janeiro harbor, and the German cruiser, Karlsruhe, in Pernambuco, both of which ships have been off the Brazilian coast for more than two months. The press reports that two Italian men-of-war arrived in Pernambuco yesterday from Italy direct. The Department’s telegraphic instruction to this Embassy, No. 60 of October 11, 2 P.M. 1930,7 appears to be applicable, especially as whatever disturbances might occur in São Paulo would be of so sudden a character that before Federal forces took control foreign forces could scarcely be brought to the scene of action in time to prevent destruction or plunder.
[Page 421]At the end of last week Consul General Cameron telegraphed me the following resolution of the local Consular Corps:
“Consular Corps convoked to study the matter bombarding open cities resolved that each Consul consult his Chief of Mission regarding the advisability making an investigation in loco by representatives chosen from Corps to determine the facts in the case”.
to which I immediately replied:
“Advise disassociating yourself from Corps investigation, although information supplementing what you have already submitted will be appreciated. Investigate particularly whether any form of warnings were given”.
Since then a number of colleagues, either spontaneously or after consulting this Embassy, instructed their respective consuls in the same sense. A Corps investigation of the circumstances attending the Campinas bombing which would express an opinion as to whether the bombing was done by Federal or São Paulo airplanes would be likely to involve the members of the Corps in difficulties either with the Government from which they received their exequaturs or with that which is de facto in their consular district. It is desirable that they should offend neither of those Governments, but that they should remain on good terms with both in order that they may fulfill their obligations to their nationals, as well as to the diplomatic representatives in Rio de Janeiro who depend upon them for information which otherwise they are unable to obtain.
The blockade of Santos, regarding which Consul General Cameron telegraphed the Department a resolution of the American Chamber of Commerce of September 3rd [23rd?],8 appears to be effective and is a measure of war which the Federal Government considers that it is justified in taking.
Respectfully yours
- Not printed.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1930, vol. i, p. 435.↩
- See telegram of September 24, 2 p.m., from the Consul General at São Paulo, p. 417.↩