Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The American Republics, Volume VII

711.32/206: Telegram

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

Rio de Janeiro, February 1, 1944—4 p.m.
[Received 6:50 p.m.]

383. Following the statements set out in my 382 of February 1, 4 p.m.,¹⁹ I told President Vargas as instructed by President Roosevelt²⁰ of our President’s interest to have Brazilian post war participation in an air base either in West Africa or in the Cape Verde Islands. President Vargas said that he would gladly participate. I then referred to the statement Vargas made prior to my departure for Washington, that he might be willing to permit our aviation authorities to maintain some sort of post war “interest” in the Northeastern Brazil air bases and I told him that our air authorities would much like to maintain such an “interest”. He said, “Well, you may tell President Roosevelt that I am willing to make an agreement with you permitting some sort of continuing military use of those fields”.

Caffery

19. Not printed.
20. It appears to be very possible that these were oral instructions received by the Ambassador during his conferences in Washington.