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

832.24/881a: Telegram

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

Washington, May 27, 1942—9 p.m.

1364. From the Under Secretary. Against the opposition of our own Navy, and only due to personal instructions given by the President, arrangements were finally made by the Navy Department to escort to Trinidad the five Brazilian vessels loaded with lend-lease material. It was clearly understood by the Brazilian Embassy here that the commanders of these vessels would scrupulously obey the orders given by the convoying authorities.

I have just received the following letter from the Vice Chief of Naval operations:⁵⁹

“As you will recall arrangements were made to escort five Brazilian vessels loaded with lend-lease material as far as Trinidad. I am enclosing herewith a memorandum⁶⁰ which I believe you should have as apparently two of the Brazilian vessels the Midosi and Tiradentes are proceeding without escort through the Caribbean, and in the unfortunate event that either is torpedoed, this information may prove of value. In the meantime there appears there is nothing you can do as the matter has been taken up with the Brazilian Naval Attaché.”

I have communicated this information to the Brazilian Ambassador, who is informing President Vargas by direct cable. The Ambassador is suggesting that the Brazilian Navy, through the Brazilian Naval Attaché in Washington, assume jurisdiction over the commanders of these vessels in the place of the agents of Lloyd Brasileiro.

I know you appreciate the sacrifice which the convoying of these vessels involves to us at the present time. If these vessels are sunk, the loss will be very great from the standpoint of the Brazilian Army. Moreover, each one of the vessels had guns which we had supplied and American armed guards on board which we had lent. The unwillingness of the captains of these Brazilian ships to obey the orders issued to them by the American naval authorities seems to me nothing short of criminal in the light of circumstances. I hope you will take this matter up vigorously and support the Ambassador’s recommendation that the Brazilian Navy should assume the responsibility and that none of these vessels should proceed except under orders given directly to them by the Brazilian Navy in cooperation with our own naval authorities. [Welles.]

Hull

59. Vice Adm. Frederick J. Horne.
60. Not found in Department files.