811.20 Defense (M) Brazil/2130: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)
4063. Embassy’s 5334, December 15.5 Department approves the form of agreement with the changes agreed upon by Allen and Donnelly in telephone conversation on December 17.
Before operations are undertaken under the agreement, it is believed advisable that Embassy secure clear understanding of the following matters:
- (1)
- As to the methods that will be used for recruiting the labor in question.
- (2)
- As to the fact that the labor obtained shall be placed in employment through an agency of the Brazilian Government and that the Brazilian Government will hold itself responsible for the working conditions of the laborers and the terms of the labor contracts that may be entered into. These of course should be discussed with the Rubber Reserve Company.
- (3)
- That the Brazilian Government will take all necessary measures to see that suitable reception and arrangements are worked out for handling the laborers upon their arrival in Belém and their eventual placement in the producing areas with such financial and technical advice from the Rubber Reserve as may be requested.
The Department’s approval of the arrangement is based on the belief that the rubber shortage is so serious and has such military importance as to justify emergency arrangements of this kind. Nevertheless it is felt that the local representatives of the Rubber Reserve Company must follow its execution extremely closely and that the Embassy should at all times keep itself fully informed and satisfy itself that this whole program is being carried out in such a way as to avoid the grave consequences which might otherwise ensue.
- Not printed.↩