811.24500/1–1444
The Secretary of War (Stimson) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have received a copy of the letter addressed to you by the President under date of. January 8 [7], 1944, with which he forwarded memoranda relating to air bases and facilities for the operation of military aircraft deemed essential to our future military [Page 548] requirements, and in which he requested that the State Department, as a matter of high priority, initiate negotiations with the governments concerned.
In the same letter the President indicated that he wished this Department and the Navy Department to collaborate fully with the State Department in the matter, and that we would advise you of the relative importance of the various air bases and facilities, and would prescribe the maxima to be desired and the minima which will be acceptable in each instance.
The War Department regards certain air bases and aeronautical rights and facilities in Brazil as having a very high priority in the program. Furthermore, in the opinion of Army officers who are familiar with the Brazilian situation, the time is opportune for the institution of negotiations and the completion of a military agreement with Brazil. I am advised that this view is shared by representatives of your Department here in Washington and by our Ambassador in Brazil, with whom certain Army Air Force officers have already had informal conversations.
The Brazilian air bases and facilities of primary importance to us are located at Belém, São Luiz, Fortaleza, Natal, Recife and Amapa. I am today communicating with the Secretary of the Navy in order to ascertain from them the seaplane bases and other facilities which they put in the same category. At all of the points I have named fields and facilities have been constructed or improved under direction of the War Department for war purposes, with United States funds. I believe that your Department already has copies of the documents and memoranda that pertain to our wartime use of these fields and installations, but to the extent that you do not have them our files can quickly be made available.
In the President’s letter he states that the optimum arrangements desired in the case of certain foreign airfields would be to have the United States own or become long-term lessee of the base and facilities, with certain ancillary rights. If this could be arranged on any reasonable terms in the case of any of the installations I have named, it would of course be most desirable. If that is not possible, I am told that it is not improbable that Brazil will be willing to agree to allow our military aircraft full rights of user of these fields, and also to an arrangement whereby the fields themselves would be made subject, for a stated period of time, to joint control, operation and maintenance by the Brazilian Air Forces and the United States Army Air Forces. Such an agreement would be of great value to our postwar defenses.
In addition to the foregoing every effort should be made to secure the following rights: [Page 549]
- a.
- To operate military aircraft into, over and away from Brazilian territory, and to land in emergencies or for technical purposes at all Brazilian airports open to military traffic. It will be agreeable to the War Department to grant reciprocal rights to Brazil.
- b.
- At the airports to which I have referred above (which may be referred to as “strategic airports”), to enjoy in addition to the rights referred to in paragraph a, full rights of user by our military aircraft jointly with military aircraft of Brazil.
- c.
- To install, maintain and operate at the strategic airports such radio, weather, communications and other facilities as are required for the use of the fields by our military aircraft.
- d.
- To maintain at the strategic airports such personnel as may be required for this country’s share of the operation and maintenance of the fields, and their facilities, and for operation and maintenance of such of our aircraft as may be temporarily there located.
- e.
- To import, free of duty, material, equipment and supplies requisite to the improvement, maintenance, operation and defense of the fields.
Operating and maintenance expenses should be prorated between the United States and Brazil in accordance with some predetermined basis of respective responsibility, occupancy and use.
The War Department has prepared a draft of a proposed agreement embodying the foregoing and certain other points, which I shall forward to you for your consideration after we have had an opportunity to secure from the Navy a statement of their requirements and requests.
I understand that Ambassador Caffery and Major General Robert L. Walsh are now in Washington. General Walsh is Commanding General of the United States Army Forces South Atlantic, and Commanding General of the South Atlantic Division of the Air Transport Command, and, because of his direct contact with the problem, appears well qualified to take an active part in the negotiations. I would suggest that at as early a date as practicable they, with such other representatives as may be necessary, be requested to proceed to Brazil to take up formally with the Brazilian Government and the Brazilian military authorities the question of the negotiation of an agreement.
I do not think that the negotiations should be delayed because of any contemplated discussions with the Brazilians regarding post-war commercial air rights, and I believe that such commercial discussions will very probably be facilitated if a military agreement of the kind I have outlined is first entered into.
I shall communicate with you again after hearing from the Secretary of the Navy.
Sincerely yours,