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

832.24/673: Telegram

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

Rio de Janeiro, February 7, 1942—noon.
[Received 6:55 p.m.]

371. For the Under Secretary. Aranha told me Thursday afternoon he was going the same evening to the Rezopolis.²⁴ He asked me to give your message²⁵ (when it came) to Fraga²⁶ to take to him at the Rezopolis and he would take it to President Vargas the next day at Petropolis.

I telephoned Aranha yesterday morning that I was proceeding to Petropolis and suggested that he meet me there: he did. When I showed him your telegram he said “That’s just the old run around. You can’t show that to President Vargas. Welles told him that you would give us equal treatment with England, Russia, China—you are doing nothing of the kind; you are dumping a lot of trucks on us; giving us nothing we need for the defense of the northeast: anti-aircraft guns, artillery, combat planes. Tell Welles he had better just file this away and forget it. Our military people are going to raise hell with many I told you so’s. President Vargas will never believe the State Department again”.

I made several appropriate observations and stuck to my guns that I would see Vargas.

I saw Vargas who asked me to convey to you his appreciation and gratitude. He said, “My offhand opinion is very good indeed (of course I will consult my technicians). Welles is carrying out his promises to me. This is not all we need but the fact that he is getting it to us before the first of next month demonstrates his good faith (which I have never doubted). Thank him for me and thank also President Roosevelt for his cooperation. Tell Welles that we shall be expecting this material as fast as he can send it.

I have full confidence that he appreciates our other urgent needs, especially how badly we need artillery and anti-aircraft guns at Fernando de Noronha, Natal, etc.; and that without combat planes we will be helpless in the northeast”. (See General Miller’s memorandum to me dated January 19, 1942 of which you have a copy entitled “Immediate needs of Brazilian Army and Air Force for defense northeast Brazil”.²⁷ [)]

As I left he repeated, “Tell Welles of my high appreciation and of my full confidence in him”.

Aranha was waiting for me and when I told him of the results of my conversation he said “I hope that he keeps to that opinion”.

Caffery

24. Reference presumably is to the resort town, Teresopolis (Therezopolis).
25. See supra.
26. Presumably Edgar Fraga de Castro, an official in the Brazilian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
27. Not found in Department files.