632.6231/52: Telegram
The Ambassador in Brazil ( Gibson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 25—6:05 p.m.]
133. My 132, May 25, 6 p.m. Yesterday’s Correio da Manha carried a sensational story alleging that Aranha9 has sent a telegram to President Vargas reporting certain representations made to him by the Department, the implication being that if the Brazilian-German modus vivendi is signed the American Government will put Brazilian coffee on a quota. He is also supposed to have threatened to resign unless the Foreign Office ceases to undermine his efforts to build up better relations with the United States.
I have not been able to get at the facts as the Minister for Foreign Affairs has not been at the Ministry today and I shall be able to see him only tomorrow. I have considered it wise to avoid the Presidential [Page 253] Palace in order not to give further color, which it may not deserve, to the newspaper reports in question.
In the meantime, I should be glad if the Department could inform me as to what representations if any have been made to Aranha on the subject of the Brazilian-German modus vivendi.
- Oswaldo Aranha, Brazilian Ambassador in the United States.↩