810.20 Defense/1309a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)
209. From the Under Secretary.9 The Navy Department finds it necessary in view of the situation which is developing in the Atlantic to enhance its patrol activities. The Navy Department is of the opinion that in accordance with the spirit of the staff talks between Brazil and the United States, an urgent situation has arisen involving the need to take additional measures of protection to insure the safety and security of the Western Hemisphere. It desires, therefore, to know whether the Brazilian Government would be willing to permit at this time vessels of the United States Navy engaged in such patrol activities to utilize the ports of Bahia and Pernambuco for the purpose of overhauling and of obtaining repair facilities. The Navy would likewise desire occasionally to have tenders and tankers put into these two ports for refueling, et cetera.
[Page 494]Please take this matter up as quickly as possible in the strictest confidence with Aranha10 and telegraph the views of the Brazilian Government. [Welles.]