Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The American Republics, Volume V

832.00 Nazi/35: Telegram

The Chargé in Germany (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State²⁵

Berlin, May 17, 1938—4 p.m.
[Received May 17—1:20 p.m.]

251. The alleged statements of Vargas implying that the recent outbreak in Brazil was instigated by Nazis as well as the reported accusations in certain Brazilian papers that the conspiracy was actually dictated from Berlin have elicited an outburst of indignant denial in the German press. In substance the general line of editorial comment is that Vargas, given the lead by the press in the United States, is attempting to use the German population in Brazil as a scapegoat to divert public attention from the deeply resented and ever increasing domination and economic penetration of Brazil by the United States which he has condoned. This development is interpreted as another illustration of the deliberate anti-German campaign in Brazil which is mainly nourished by the United States and which according to the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung has become particularly apparent since the appointment of the former Brazilian Ambassador in Washington as Foreign Minister, an appointment said to have been made at the wish if not under the pressure of the United States.

Gilbert

25. The text of this telegram was repeated to the Ambassador in Brazil as Department’s telegram No. 67, May 19, 6 p.m.