832.24/668b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)
276. From the Under Secretary. Please deliver personally to President Vargas the following message from me. (Please see that Aranha has a copy of it at the same time that you hand it to President Vargas.)
“Immediately upon my return to Washington I received the authorization of President Roosevelt to inform the necessary authorities of the Government of the United States of the President’s desire that Your Excellency’s requests be promptly complied with and that those authorities be informed of the President’s wish that your requirements be met immediately.
In studying the military needs of Brazil, it now seems perfectly clear that instead of 100 million dollars, at least 150 million dollars will be required. I am happy to assure Your Excellency now that an additional 50 million dollars can be made available to Brazil and this Government will adjust its agreement with the Brazilian Government accordingly. During the visit of Minister Souza Costa to Washington, this new agreement can be concluded. Pending, however, the formalities of such an agreement, this Government will procure the additional material with the understanding, of course, that nothing will be sent to Brazil that does not receive the prior approval of your Government.
In addition to the list which I had the honor of giving Your Excellency during my recent visit to Rio de Janeiro there will be sent to Brazil before the first of March the following items:
| Telescope sights | 117 | |
| 7 inch projectiles | 282 | |
| Tetryl | 2,500 | pounds |
| Scout cars | 31 | |
| Tanks completely equipped with guns and machine guns | 20 | |
| 30 caliber ammunition | 360,000 | rounds |
| Tracer Ammunition | 90,000 | rounds |
| 45 caliber ball ammunition | 30,000 | rounds |
| 37 mm A.P. shell | 3,000 | |
| Ambulances | 20 | |
| 2½ ton trucks | 360 | |
| ¼ ton command reconnaissance cars | 274 | |
| ½ ton weapons carrier trucks | 40 | |
| Tank trucks | 10 | |
| 1½ ton trucks | 180 | |
| 4 ton trucks | 26 | |
| Motorcycles | 30 | |
| Lodestar Lockheed | 1 | |
| Fairchild primary trainers | 30 |
An additional 15 primary trainers will be sent at the earliest possible moment.
We will start shipment of basic trainers in February and complete total of 50 at earliest possible moment.
In addition to Beechcraft transports already delivered we can deliver two additional transports a month. I believe this schedule can be substantially increased and am bending every effort to get this done.
While we are moving our fighters, dive bombers and bombardment planes into the battle areas, nevertheless our production is on the increase and these combat craft will be sent at the earliest possible date.
Amphibian and patrol planes, bombs and spare parts should reach you at an early date. Bi-motor Beechcraft also are under way.
Your naval requests are being handled here promptly and Navy today has advised me that a substantial amount of naval equipment can be shipped immediately. I will let you know as soon as possible about the details of this.
I have conferred this morning with your Ambassador21 and with General Amaro Bittencourt.22 The latter informs me that in addition to the material above listed, the Brazilian Government urgently requires first, 5,000 6-inch projectiles; second, armament and munitions for the 10 tanks and 10 scout cars already in Brazil; third, a priority for the completion by the Baldwin Locomotive Company of twelve 7-inch cannon.
I have submitted these three requests immediately to Mr. Hopkins23 who has full authority to deal with these questions, and through whose assistance by direction of the President the above statement is sent to you, and Mr. Hopkins has assured me that these matters will be satisfactorily attended to before the conclusion of today. General Amaro during the course of today will receive direct word on these points.
I am glad to inform Your Excellency that due to the President’s directions I have found the most excellent cooperation with regard to the requirements of your Government from both the War and the Navy Departments.
In conclusion, may I state that if at any moment the urgent requirements of the Brazilian Government as set forth in the memoranda Your Excellency gave me are not being satisfactorily met, I [Page 641] shall appreciate it if you will have word sent to me directly and I can assure you that it is the desire and the policy of this Government to see to it that every question be immediately and satisfactorily solved in the interest of the Brazilian Government.
Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration and of my lasting personal friendship.”
General Amaro tells me that with the inclusion of the three points mentioned in the latter part of my message to the President, the desires of the Brazilian war department will be fully met. There will be no trouble in so far as the Navy Department is concerned. The outstanding gap, of course, is the question of the combat planes, but I feel sure that some progress can be made along this line in the immediate future.
In your conversation with the President, please make it doubly clear that if for any reason he is not wholly satisfied with this response, all he has to do is to let me know through you and I feel positive that everything necessary can be done at this end to meet the situation.
Please telegraph me the result of your conversation. [Welles.]