832.20/403: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)
1513. From the Under Secretary. Your 1807, May 28, 9 p.m. I have received today from the Deputy Chief of Staff62 a reply to [Page 664] the suggestions contained in your telegram under reference, which I submitted to him.
The pertinent portion of this reply reads as follows:
“With reference to the request for the extension of the duty of the United States Army Air Force pilots and enlisted personnel, their original instructions were to remain until proper transition of Brazilian pilots had been completed, and I will, in consequence, authorize them to remain another month as requested, although the situation with respect to trained Air Corps personnel is extremely critical at this time in our own armed forces.
With respect to additional B–25’s, the present procurement status of these aircraft precludes further deliveries of this type. I could not recommend additional transfers to Brazil at present, nor do I believe that the Munitions Assignment Board would authorize such transfers. However, I am informed that the Munitions Assignment Board has allotted to the Brazilian Government 18 A–29 Lockheed Light Bombers and 28 A–31 Dive Bombers, for delivery from August through December of this year, inclusive. These aircraft are suited for the missions now being performed by the B–25’s, and may be employed to supplement and augment present operations.
With respect to antiaircraft machine guns, the adequate defense of the airfields in Northeast Brazil has been studied by the War Department and will be discussed in the conference of the Joint Brazil–United States Defense Commission which will meet in Washington in the near future.”
Hull
- Lt. Gen. Henry H. Arnold.↩