835.248/100: Telegram

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

119. For the Under Secretary. Aranha spoke to me at great length this afternoon and repeatedly insisted that I let you know that he is “alarmed and hurt” over the recent action of the American Government in agreeing to send military aviation instructors to Buenos Aires and the recent action reported to him by Pimentel Brandao40 of agreeing to allow Argentine naval officers to serve on American naval vessels. He pretends to see in this a change of American policy in regard to Latin American relations. He spoke of the traditional relations hitherto existing between Brazil and the United States and allegedly believes that the United States is now forcing Brazil to look after her own interests without expectation of help from Washington. He spoke of the recent visit here of ex-President Justo who spent most of his time, according to Aranha, in attempting to persuade Brazil to line herself with the Argentine Republic and place no further [Page 318] reliance on the United States; Justo, he said was very inimical in his criticisms of the United States in general, Department of State policies, et cetera. Justo offered in the name of President Ortiz to allow Brazil to purchase three of their destroyers now building in England.

I of course endeavored to persuade Aranha that he was entirely mistaken but after listening to my remarks he again asked me to send you the message described above.

He then added, “This is all hard enough for me to understand but it is even harder for me to explain to our army, navy, press, public, and President Vargas as well.”

Caffery
  1. Mario de Pimentel Brandão, Brazilian Ambassador in the United States.