835.248/100: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)
69. Your 119, May 19, 9 p.m. A few days ago Pimentel Brandão called to see me regarding the report he had received that the Navy Department had changed its former policy and was now prepared to admit naval officers from the other American republics to service on United States naval vessels even during the time that such vessels were taking part in fleet maneuvers. The Ambassador told me that he had reported this information to Aranha and that Aranha had instructed him to express his concern and to tell me that he was sending an airmail letter containing his views in the matter. For your confidential information, Pimentel Brandão told me that he considered such a policy on the part of the Navy Department would be most desirable and helpful.
I informed the Ambassador that the report was completely unfounded, that the Navy Department had given the utmost measure of consideration to the possibility of undertaking such a policy as that referred to, but had reached the determination that it was not practicable. I requested Pimentel Brandão to inform Aranha that the report was totally inaccurate, and I wish you would confirm this to him.
With regard to the sending of military aviation instructors to Argentina, I am unable to comprehend what objection there can be to such a step on the part of this Government. At the present time we have serving as advisers to the Brazilian Government a considerable number of American officers from both the naval and military services. It would seem to be impossible for this Government to justify affording such facilities to the Brazilian Government and denying the same facilities to the governments of other American republics, [Page 319] provided this Government is in a position where it can render the services desired. Furthermore, as was pointed out to you in a recent telegram, the Argentine Government was understood to have received offers for the extension of such facilities from both the German and the Italian Governments, and it would seem most decidedly in the interest of inter-American solidarity that such services be afforded when practicable by one American government to another, rather than by a non-American power.
For your strictly confidential information, you are, of course, aware that Aranha has consistently appeared to believe that in matters of this kind the United States should afford such facilities to Brazil and should deny them to Argentina. During these past years I have never received any information which would seem to show that former President Justo was inimical to the United States nor that he distrusted the policy of this Administration. On the contrary, I very decidedly gained the impression that it was his particular desire to assist in creating a far more cordial and cooperative relationship between his country and the United States than had previously existed. In your conversation with Aranha I wish you would inform him that you have advised me of his message to which I have, of course, given the utmost thought and consideration and that I deeply regret the feeling he has expressed. You may also say to him that, in as much as one of the reports he received is completely unfounded, and in as much as the other matter to which he referred is one which derives from the desire of this Government to increase and improve its friendly relations with all of the American republics on a basis of equality of treatment to all, and because of the other considerations set forth above, I hope that on further reflection he will see that such a step on the part of the United States in no sense indicates the slightest intention on our part of departing from our traditional policy of a peculiarly close friendship with Brazil. It had seemed to me that during the past 3 years, particularly during the time that Aranha was Ambassador in Washington, that friendship had been made much closer. Certainly so far as this Government is concerned, it is our most sincere desire to continue along our traditional course.