Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1942, The American Republics, Volume V

832.248/340: Telegram

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

[Extracts]

Rio de Janeiro, February 3, 1942—8 p.m.
[Received February 4—5:27 a.m.]

334. For the Under Secretary. Referring to the 10 P–36 and the 2 B–18 airplanes about which there has been a great deal of correspondence, the Chief of Cabinet of the Air Ministry¹⁷ now writes as follows to the Chief of our Air Mission¹⁸ here:

“In order to issue instructions to the Air Force staff and to the command of the 2d Air Zone as to the grouping of P–36 and B–18 airplanes in the northeast of Brazil the Ministry of Aeronautics desires that in accordance with the cooperation agreement signed between the United States and Brazil¹⁹ the following points be fixed.

1. The arrival of 10 airplanes P–36 and 2 airplanes B–18 is expected, these planes to be sent by the American Government to Brazil in accordance to the request made by the Minister for Air, that airplanes be furnished to guard the northeast.

In accordance with the agreements made and due to the present impossibility of the furnishing of modern airplanes to be acquired by the Brazilian Government it has been decided that the airplanes in question would continue to be property of the American Government, being utilized by the personnel of the F. A. B.²⁰ for training and eventual use.

2. In order to define the situation of the above-mentioned planes that are going to constitute an aeroplane grouping, the Ministry of Aeronautics desires that the following points be crossed in the following manner:

1. Period of adaptation of the planes by the F. A. B. personnel. (a) Nature of adaptation according to program in detail presented by the Chief of the U. S. M. M. and approved by the Minister; (b) duration—not to exceed 6 weeks; (c) grouping conferred [sic] with during the adaptation and its subordination; one superior officer of the F. A. B. directly subordinated to the command of the 2d Air Zone. The American officers will administer the instructions in accordance to the approved program.

2. After the adaptation period: (a) Situation of the planes: The Brazilian Government will take the entire responsibility as to the material indemnifying the American Government for any damage occurred, [(b)] Grouping command: After the adaptation period the command will continue to be exercised by a superior officer of the F. A. B. directly subordinate to Air Minister. (c) The officers of the U. S. M. M. will return to Rio against [sic] this period and any suggestions that the U. S. M. M. may have to make as to the instruction or use of the referred to grouping will be sent through the aeronautics staff.[”]

[Here follows an explanation of mutual dissatisfactions of American and Brazilian officers over the air defense of Brazil.]

Referring to the last paragraph of the note quoted above from Colonel Cardoso, I recommend that the Minister of Air’s^20a condition be accepted.

Caffery

17. Presumably Col. Dulcidio Cardoso.
18. Col. Thomas D. White.
19. For a general statement of the terms of this agreement, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. vi, section under Brazil entitled “Cooperation between the United States and Brazil on certain measures for Hemisphere defense”, footnote 2.
20. Brazilian Air Force.
21. Joaquin Pedro Salgado Filho.