832.6584/4–346
Memorandum by the Acting Chief of the Division of Brazilian Affairs (Braddock) to the Assistant Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs (Braden)
Ever since February 27 of this year Brazil has been beseeching the United States to send it emergency shipments of wheat to help alleviate an acute food crisis, as their efforts to get wheat supplies from their normal provider, Argentina, had met with seemingly unsurmountable obstacles.
The overwhelming demands that are being made on us to feed starving populations of Europe have pushed the Brazilian need into the background and no effective action has been taken on their request.
Yet the Brazilian need is a must and should be emphasized on a par with the needs of Europe. It is not too much to say that so important to Brazil is a minimum supply of wheat that for us to deny our help in getting it puts our whole relations with Brazil, traditionally intimate and cooperative, in jeopardy. Even now we are [Page 125] being widely attacked in Brazil for our unwillingness to assist the Brazilians in their crisis. The Communists are viciously exploiting this situation to do us harm. I have exhausted my resources in trying to get action. Will you try again?