740.00112 European War 1939/1226
The Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 28.]
Sir: Referring to recent reports in connection with the Wakama incident, I have the honor to report that the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs told me yesterday that the British Ambassador had been in to say that his Government was not pleased with the way the Wakama matter had been handled. Aranha invited his attention to the fact that no threat or menace had been made. The British Ambassador then went on to say that the British were protecting Brazilian commerce. Aranha replied: “Indeed you are not; you are definitely not protecting our commerce by maintaining your warships off our coast. It is apparent to me that your blockade of Germany is plainly ineffective. If it were effective, you could stop the German boats on the other side before they entered German ports.”
Respectfully yours,