611.3231/535

The Brazilian Ambassador ( Lima e Silva ) to the Acting Secretary of State

[Translation]

My Dear Secretary of State: Thank you very much for your letter.

As I have had occasion to say to you, my Government sees no objection whatever to our conversing regarding the possibility of the conclusion of a commercial agreement.

Such conversations, however, would be merely for the purpose of exploring the ground, and would not have the character of a formal negotiation.

[Page 16]

It would desire further that the American Government suggest to it the bases on which the said agreement would rest, in order to make a better and more detailed examination of the subject.

I avail myself [etc.]

R. de Lima e Silva