Office of the Historian

835.248/98: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)

Washington, May 12, 1938—noon.

64. Your 106, May 11, 1 p.m. I expect that the Argentine Government and this Government will make some announcement the end of [Page 317] this week or the beginning of the week following with regard to the question of aviation instructors.37 Until such time I think it preferable for you to avoid making any comment to the Foreign Office if you can avoid it. If, however, Aranha requests information, you may say that a short time ago the Argentine Government requested the services of American aviation instructors and that this Government was glad to be able to comply with the request in the same manner as it had complied with the request of the Brazilian Government to furnish naval38 and military advisers39 for the use of that Government. You may add that I am sure he will agree that it would seem to be in line with the inter-American policy of this Government and of the Brazilian and Argentine Governments that services of this technical character be furnished whenever possible by nationals of one of the American republics in preference to nationals of non-American powers.

Hull
  1. A statement was made by the Secretary on May 18 to the effect that contracts had been signed under which eight officers of the U. S. Army Air Corps would proceed to Argentina to give technical instruction; Department of State, Press Releases, May 21, 1938, p. 598.↩
  2. See Naval Mission agreement signed May 27, 1936, Executive Agreement Series No. 94, or 50 Stat. 1403.↩
  3. See Military Mission agreement signed November 12, 1936, Executive Agreement Series No. 98.↩