Office of the Historian

740.0011 European War 1939/10568: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)

Washington, May 5, 1941—5 p.m.

271. Your 395, May 2, 7 p.m. Please inform Nabuco that it is desired to avoid any appearance of a collective representation to the Spanish Government by all the American republics. It is hoped that the Brazilian Government will consider the question on its merits and without regard to whether other governments plan to take the proposed action. Obviously the situations of different governments of the American republics vis-à-vis the Spanish Government vary considerably. Some of them will feel able to act affirmatively in the present matter while others for various reasons will not wish to do so. It is my belief that any statement by the Brazilian Ambassador at Madrid would be most useful in the present circumstances.11

Hull
  1. In telegram No. 420, May 7, 1941, 3 p.m., from Rio de Janeiro, Ambassador Caffery reported that the Brazilian Government would take affirmative action (740.0011 European War 1939/10704).↩