611.3231/990: Telegram
The Ambassador in Brazil (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:04 p.m.]
195. Department’s 135, August 21, 4 p.m. On my arrival yesterday I had an opportunity to discuss briefly with the Minister for Foreign Affairs the ratification of the trade agreement. This afternoon I had a longer talk with him and went into the subject fully on the basis of the Department’s 124, July 24, 6 p.m. and other communications. I sought to impress upon him as strongly as possible the importance attached to the early ratification of the agreement and the unfortunate effect of failure to ratify not only as regards this agreement but also as regards our whole program.
Macedo Soares obviously grasped the full significance of the situation and this afternoon and tomorrow is calling in the reporter of the Committee on Agriculture and others to urge upon them action for early ratification. I am convinced that the Minister for Foreign Affairs will do everything in his power to meet our wishes but I find a complicated internal political situation which raises some doubt as to his ability to have his way. I will report concerning this situation in a further telegram.