611.3231/1478
The Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 8.]
Sir: Referring to the Department’s instruction No. 5266 of November 10, 1943, filed No. 611.3231/1642 [1471a], and my despatch No. 13889 of December 16, 1943,52 in regard to a confidential memorandum prepared by the Department concerning the possibilities of concluding a new Reciprocal Trade Agreement, I have the honor to enclose a translation of a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs,53 dated January 27, 1944,54 accepting in principle the Department’s suggestion, and expressing a willingness to exchange impressions and initiate discussions with American representatives with a view to ascertaining whether it is desirable to conclude a new Trade Agreement.
An official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a recent discussion of this subject with my Economic Counselor55 indicated informally that Brazil had in mind the creation of a joint Brazilian-Embassy preparatory committee for the purpose of making preliminary studies. Mr. Donnelly was also given the impression by this official that the Brazilian Government had in mind a somewhat more comprehensive [Page 652] revision of the current agreement than the Department possibly contemplates at this time.
Respectfully yours,
Counselor of Embassy for Economic Affairs