832.24/287: Telegram
The Chargé in Brazil (Burdett) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:45 p.m.]
658. General Goes Monteiro made the following remarks to me last night concerning the Siqueira Campos case:
“The British do not realize the irreparable harm they are doing their cause and interests in Brazil by their stubborn and unreasonable attitude. Whereas 90 percent of the Brazilian population was formerly pro-British, that situation has changed. They have played right into the hands of the Germans. There is no need for the Nazis to make propaganda here. The British are doing it for them.
Even with a satisfactory solution of this case, and even if they allow the Bage to sail from Lisbon with additional armament, the harm has been done. The British forget their huge interests in this country such as the São Paulo Railway, Western Telegraph, London Bank, packing houses, etc., which we may take over if the Siqueira Campos is not released. The light and power company is Canadian and we will not interfere with it. The British forget the facilities received from our naval and port authorities in provisioning and repairing their vessels. They have over 100 intelligence operatives in this country all of whom are known to us. They have been allowed to work unmolested, but we intend to stop this situation.
[Page 652]We are not particularly interested in an immediate solution of the Buarque and Itapé cases which can be settled in due course by joint action of all the signatories to the Panama and Habana Conventions.”