724.3415/4799
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Latin American Affairs (Wilson)
Mr. Wiggin of the British Embassy telephoned and referred to our conversation of yesterday (see memorandum dated April 18). He [Page 41] stated that the Embassy had received another cable from its Foreign Office to the effect that the British Ambassador in Rio de Janeiro in urging the Brazilian Government to accept the Argentine-Chilean mediation invitation had acted before receipt either in Washington or Rio de Janeiro of the Foreign Office’s suggestion that there might be a joint Brazilian [British?]-American démarche in Rio de Janiero. The Foreign Office therefore believed that the possibility still existed for joint action by Great Britain and the United States. Furthermore, the British Ambassador at Rio de Janeiro reported that he had been told on April 16 by the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs that the latter thought that in a week or two an entirely fresh mediation might be initiated by Brazil and the United States, “whom both contenders can trust”, and that Argentina would be placated by being invited to participate and to have the mediation take place in Buenos Aires. The British Government felt any such move by Brazil would “raise complications as to starting something fresh”; they therefore suggested that the United States might join with Great Britain in urging Brazil not to undertake any such initiative but simply to accept the original Argentine-Chilean invitation. Mr. Wiggin asked our views.
I stated that, as I had said yesterday, we had informed Brazil of our earnest desire that she might see her way clear to participate in the proposed mediation and Brazil was therefore fully aware of our views in the matter, as well as of the fact that all the governments involved in the proposed mediation desired Brazil’s participation. I said that we were confident that Brazil would ultimately be found among the mediating nations, and that under the circumstances I did not see anything to be gained by any joint action of the United States and Great Britain in Rio de Janeiro. Mr. Wiggin expressed his concurrence in my views and said that he would inform his Government.