811.113 Senate Investigation/22: Telegram
The Ambassador in Brazil ( Gibson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 13—12:18 a.m.]
215. Foreign Office has in strict confidence made available two telegrams from Chargé d’Affaires in Washington15 concerning present Senate investigation of arms traffic. On September 11th Chargé d’Affaires sent second telegram stating that during a conversation with Assistant Secretary Welles in regard to the Chaco16 the Chargé d’Affaires had brought up the question of the Senate investigation stating that he was greatly surprised by the allusions of graft paid to Brazilian officials and said “absolutely on his own” that Brazil had not protested “due to its respect for American institutions.” He added that the Argentine and Chilean representatives had protested against statements made in connection with their nationals. He asked if he might address an official note to the Department repeating what he had already stated although no definite decision has been taken. It is my opinion that the Brazilian Government will not instruct the Embassy to present a note on this subject. The official who showed me this correspondence is anxious to minimize its importance suggesting privately that it would perhaps be helpful if Mr. Welles were to address a confidential telegram to me alluding to his conversation with the Chargé d’Affaires and in some way minimize the importance of the allusions to Brazilian authorities in such a manner that I can show it to the Foreign Office.
- C. de Freitas-Valle.↩
- For correspondence, see vol. iv, pp. 32 ff.↩