Office of the Historian

832.24/520

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

No. 5724
Rio de Janeiro, November 3, 1941.
[Received November 10.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that as General Miller told me upon his return from Washington on October 26th that considerable confusion existed among the various Brazilian Agencies having to do with the purchase of war material in the United States, I personally handed to President Vargas on Thursday last the following three (numbered) self-explanatory memoranda:

(1)
The War Department of the United States is somewhat perplexed by the fact that the Ministry of War of Brazil has not thus far made use of the twelve million dollar credit which has been available for some time.
(2)
There has been certain confusion brought about by the fact that there exist several purchasing agencies of Brazil in the United States which some times place contradictory orders and give contradictory recommendations. The desirability of having only one representative to head all purchasing missions in the United States is suggested.
(3)
There has been delay on the part of the Brazilian authorities in placing orders with the American Government to be fulfilled under the Lend-Lease Bill. These orders should be placed as soon as possible since the policy adopted is to fill the orders as they are placed.

President Vargas said he would look into these cases at once.

Respectfully yours,

Jefferson Caffery