Office of the Historian

832.24/7–744

Memorandum by Mr. Philip O. Chalmers of the Division of Brazilian Affairs to the Director, Office of American Republic Affairs (Duggan)

[Washington,] July 7, 1944.

I have been informed by Colonel Meals98 that the War Department will raise no objection to the exercise by the Brazilian Government of its own discretion as to the use to which trucks supplied for the Brazilian Army shall be put. In other words, there are no strings attached.

I think that this decision is sound, in as much as, a practical matter, it would be very difficult to control in any event. I did not hesitate to point this out to the War Department the other day.

I have informed Mr. Lobo99 of the foregoing and the Ambassador is now drafting a telegram to President Vargas informing him of this Government’s concurrence in the proposed use of these trucks.

  1. Lt. Col. Robert W, Meals, Operations Division, War Department General Staff.↩
  2. Fernando Lobo, Brazilian Minister Counselor in Washington.↩