611.3231/1000: Telegram
The Ambassador in Brazil (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:45 p.m.]
206. My 202, August 27, 11 p.m. The Minister of Foreign Affairs informed me this afternoon that as a result of his conversation reported in my telegram under reference the President yesterday called in the leader of the majority in the Chamber of Deputies and gave [Page 316] him full and urgent instructions to obtain ratification of the trade agreement as quickly as possible. The President also called in Euvaldo Lodi, class deputy representing industries, who has been the most active opponent of the agreement in the Chamber and informed him that unless he ceased his activities he (the President) would publicly take issue with him. Lodi promised the President to cease his obstructionist tactics.
Various other leaders of the opposition to ratification have been dealt with by one means or another. One active friend informed me this afternoon that he had secured from Dodsworth, one of the chief obstructionists, a promise that he would refrain from further opposition. An effort is now being made to get him to adopt a favorable attitude to ratification.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs insisted upon having the Agricultural Committee deal with this subject immediately, took the unusual course of appearing in the committee this afternoon and insisting on immediate consideration. The committee thereupon voted favorably on the agreement and it has now been returned to the Finance Committee which will meet and will probably vote on the matter tomorrow. The latter is the last committee to pass on the agreement before going to plenary session of the Chamber.