811.113 Senate Investigation/110

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

No. 438

Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a translation47 of a motion presented in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies on September 25, 1934, signed by Deputy Acyr de Medeiros and other class deputies, concerning the armament inquiry in the United States Senate, in its relation to the purchase of Brazilian supplies in the United States.

The local press has brought pressure to bear on the Minister of War48 in connection with this matter, and he has ordered that an inquiry be conducted in his Ministry. It is believed that this matter will not assume sensational proportions and that interest will probably die as soon as the Senate Investigation is terminated. Nevertheless it is believed that Brazilian military circles will be extremely careful about their future dealings with American manufacturers, and that consequently normal business that would ordinarily be given to American firms will go to their European competitors.

[Page 448]

In this connection it is gratifying to note that the Brazilian Foreign Office had exerted a moderating influence on the press in dealing with the Senate inquiry and that editorial comment here has for the most part been temperate in character. The Ministry has acted in several instances to persuade the press to forego publication of despatches of a sensational character.

Respectfully yours,

Hugh Gibson
  1. Not printed.
  2. Gen. Pedro Aurelio de Góes Monteiro.