611.3231/546: Telegram

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

75. It would be helpful if the Department would furnish me some indication as to the course of discussions with the Brazilian Ambassador on the subject of the trade agreement. The subject arises frequently in conversation here and I am handicapped in expressing any views for fear of crossing wires with what is being said in Washington. [Page 21] For instance, the Minister of Finance told me some days ago that he had recommended that, as regards acting on our suggestion of Brazilian experts being sent to Washington, there should be simultaneous appointment of American experts in Rio “in order to have the benefit of knowledge of Brazilian conditions”. I assume that it is the Department’s desire to keep the negotiations centralized in Washington and conducted parallel to other similar negotiations, but beyond expressing a doubt as to the feasibility of negotiating on the same subject in two places at once I did not feel warranted in expressing any views in the absence of fuller knowledge of the Department’s wishes. In the light of my brief experience here it seems difficult to avoid the conclusion that supplementary and simultaneous negotiation here would only mean confusion and delay. I should appreciate the Department’s guidance as to the line to be taken on this subject.8

Gibson
  1. By telegram No. 66, September 2, 1 p.m., the Ambassador was informed of the pertinent points of the conversations recorded in memoranda of August 29 and September 1, by the Chief of the Division of Latin American Affairs.