832.24/674: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil ( Caffery )
307. From the Under Secretary. Your 371, February 7, noon. I showed your telegram to the President yesterday. He was much amused by it.
Please tell Aranha from me that for once his uncanny intuition has been in error. This is no “run around” and there is not going to be any “run around”.
There has been created here in the Government a new board known as the Munitions Allocations Board of which Harry Hopkins is the head and of which General Burns28 is the executive chief. This Board is subordinate only to the President and is superior to every other branch of the Government dealing with matters in this field.
I have just conferred with General Burns by instruction of the President and I have arranged with General Burns to have his first meeting this afternoon with Souza Costa. The needs of the Brazilian War Ministry, Aviation Ministry and Ministry of Marine will be [Page 643] taken up in order and before the end of this week, a satisfactory agreement as to future deliveries will be reached in each case. I have emphasized to General Burns the requirements mentioned in your telegrams 377, February 7, 6 p.m., and 379, February 7, 8 p.m.29 He understands the picture fully.
For the reasons above set forth, the next 3 or 4 days will be of particular importance in finally clearing up the assignment of armament and munitions for the Brazilian Government. In accordance with the request contained in my telegram to you 276, February 5, 2 p.m., please telegraph me any further specific requests or amendments which President Vargas may have to make with regard to my message to him.
I am very much encouraged by the determination on the part of the competent authorities here to give Brazil ample satisfaction naturally within the limits of what is possible and reasonable under present circumstances. [Welles.]