Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The American Republics, Volume VIII

839.113/12–1447

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Richard H. Post of the Division of North and West Coast Affairs

secret

[Washington,] December 15, 1947.

Subject: Venezuelan Government’s Request that the United States Should Petition Brazil to Cancel Recent Arms Sales to the Dominican Republic. (Ref. Caracas T–504 Dec. 14).

Participants:	ARA: Mr. Daniels
	CRB: Mr. Hauch
	BA: Mr. Clark
	IA: Mr. Spencer
	NWC: Mr. Espy, Mr. Post

Careful consideration was given the Venezuelan request, with particular reference to Ambassador Donnelly’s telegram 504 of December 14. Mr. Post quoted from Ambasador Donnelly’s telegram No. 488 of December 6¹⁹ regarding the possibility of arms being furnished clandestinely by Dominicans to dissident groups within Venezuela for use in another revolutionary attempt. Post pointed out the possibility of such an attempt growing into a civil war with consequent threat to American oil production and installations.

The following points were then made, each of which points against the making of representations to Brazil:

(1) Since the Dominicans seem determined to buy arms, they would not be deterred by Brazil’s refusal to sell. Arms can be acquired from many sources today.

(2) Such a request would constitute United States’ intervention in the affairs of Brazil and the Dominican Republic. It might be publicly resented by both these nations. It would be contrary to the spirit and the letter (probably) of the protocol on intervention signed at Buenos Aires in 1936.²⁰

(3) Since the United States is currently selling surplus arms and war planes to various nations it would be inconsistent to make this request.

(4) Since there is no definite proof that the arms will be used against Venezuela, in whole or in part, the United States could offer no reasons for objecting to the present sale.

(5) Such a request might jeopardize the United States’ position in the present negotiations to sell surplus arms to Argentina. It would provide the Brazilians with a precedent for objecting to these sales.

(6) The request would weaken the position of the Brazilian Foreign Minister (Fernandes) vis-à-vis the military, which would be most unfortunate, since he has been very helpful to Embassy Rio but could hardly afford to shatter a lance for us in such an unpopular cause.

(7) The Brazilian army officers who have profited from the sale would be quite loath to disgorge now—even if they could be made to by their Government, which is not certain—and they would ever more be resentful of the United States.

(8) It is quite doubtful whether Brazil would accede to such a request. If Brazil refused, the United States would be in an awkward position.²¹

19. Not printed.
20. For text, see Report of the Delegation of the United States of America to the Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Peace, Buenos Aires, December, 1936 (Washington, 1937), p. 116.
21. In telegram 474, December 15, 11 p.m., the Department advised the Embassy in Venezuela that the United States would not intercede (839.113/12–1447).