832.51/1722: Telegram
The Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
Rio de
Janeiro, February
20, 1940—1 p.m.
[Received 1:30 p.m.]
[Received 1:30 p.m.]
66. My 65, February 18, 5 [6] p.m. I cannot stress too strongly the dangers inherent in any delay in getting to Aranha the Council’s attitude toward the last debt settlement plan suggested by him. Sentiment in favor of paying the debt, which as the Department knows has been far from strong, is waning fast; delay might not only lose for us the payment on the April coupons which make up a large part [of] a whole year’s payment on the dollar debt but also place the entire negotiations in jeopardy.
Caffery