811.20 Defense (M) Brazil/828
Press Release Issued by the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery) to the Brazilian Press, July 3, 19429
Establishment of a United States Purchasing Commission in Brazil
Ambassador Jefferson Caffery announced today that in order to carry out the various agreements between the Governments of Brazil and the United States, and in anticipation of new agreements between the two Governments, the United States Government, after consultation [Page 687] with the Brazilian Government, and with their approval, has decided to establish a United States Purchasing Commission in Brazil, with headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. The Commission will acquire and export the strategic materials and other products covered by the agreements.
The United States Purchasing Commission will represent the Metals Reserve Company, the Defense Supplies Corporation, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Rubber Reserve Company, and other procurement agencies of the United States Government. The Commission will be under the jurisdiction of the American Embassy.
The purchase of minerals and metals, which has been efficiently handled during the past year for the Metals Reserve Company by the Rio de Janeiro office of Leonard J. Buck Inc., will be under the control of the new Commission. The entire staff and organization of the Leonard J. Buck office will be taken over as a part of the United States Purchasing Commission and will, in the future, handle the purchase of minerals and metals through the Commission.
The United States Purchasing Commission will have its offices in the Edificio Metropole, Avenida Presidente Wilson 165, 7th. floor. The Commission will function early in July.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in his despatch No. 7866, July 7, 1942; received July 13.↩