832.248/373: Telegram
The Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:25 p.m.]
1025. For the Acting Secretary. President Vargas informed me today that his military experts believe that an attack on the northeast of Brazil can be expected by August this year, not with the intention of invading Brazil, but for the purpose of destroying airports, installations, et cetera, used by the ferry command. He added that his Air Force are insisting on the absolute necessity of immediately obtaining the following combat equipment which was requisitioned from us under Lend-Lease on October 4 last: 40 pursuit planes P–47, P–39, or P–40E; 28 medium bombers B–25; 285 bombers A–24, and 14 patrol flying boats PBY, 6 of which should be amphibian.
He personally requested me to bring this matter to your attention and added that General Olds could confirm the critical need for this material. You may recall that Olds, in his telegram to General Arnold47 (my 948 of March 12 [19] 9 p.m.48), stated that [“] smallest immediate requirements for protecting Brazilian-American activities in Recife, Belém, Natal and Fernando de Noronha about 30 P–39 or P–40, 15 B–25, 15 A–24 airplanes.” General Olds recommended that at least part of this equipment be made available while General Gomes is in the United States.49 Olds suggested that the United Nations now receiving this equipment should be induced to pro-rate it to Brazil for obvious reasons (my despatch 6808, March 2148).