810.34 Leasing/20: Telegram
The Chargé in Brazil (Scotten) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:55 p.m.]
89. Embassy’s telegram 88.9 The Minister for Foreign Affairs gave his announced collective interview to the press last night in order to clarify the viewpoint of the British [Brazilian?] Government with respect to the leasing of the destroyers. The Minister for Foreign Affairs made it clear that there has been nothing mysterious or occult in the Brazilian naval program and in this connection referred to the address delivered by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Macedo Soares in 1936 on the occasion of the visit to Rio de Janeiro of the Argentine Minister of Marine (see paragraph No. 3 of Embassy’s telegram under reference). He added that as is well known Brazil is rebuilding her fleet and that the loan of the destroyers in question is exclusively for the purpose of training the Brazilian Navy to man the new ships which are to be constructed but which will not be ready for delivery for some time to come.
The full text of the Minister’s communiqué furnished to the press after the interview follows: [Page 156]
“The unarmed condition of the Brazilian Navy which has not been renewed for many years, caused the Government of President Vargas, which is at present engaged in rebuilding our navy and supplying it with the material which it needs, as has been publicly announced in various addresses, to enter into negotiations with the American Government some months ago with a view to leasing some war vessels which could serve for training the personnel of our navy. The renovation of the Brazilian Navy will take considerable time due to the complexities and delays in constructions of this nature. In order that the Brazilian officers may develop their technical knowledge these destroyers will come from the United States on a lease basis and will supply the means for the study and handling of war vessels in accordance with our established naval program. In this manner the Brazilian officers will receive their training aboard American destroyers in preparation for the eventual but not immediate delivery of the ships which form part of the plan for the renewal of the fleet. These destroyers therefore will merely serve for the preparation of personnel of future ships and in no manner can any other purpose be attributed to them. The Minister for Foreign Affairs further stated on being questioned that he had absolutely received no complaints from any country with regard to the leasing of the destroyers”.
The press continues to carry as front page news full despatches emanating from European and American sources concerning this subject. [Here follows report on press comment.]
- August 11, 1 p.m., not printed.↩