711.32/11–2348
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Johnson)
No. 39
Sir: Reference is made to the Embassy’s top secret despatch no. 1272, dated November 23, 1948, enclosing a copy of a secret memorandum2 addressed by the Chief of Brazil’s Joint General Staff and President of the Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission, General Obino, to the Chief of the United States Army Section of the Joint Commission3 under date of November 8, 1948. In summary recapitulation, the secret memorandum indicates that the President of Brazil4 believes that, in order to obtain the approval of the Brazilian Congress for expenditures to complete and maintain the air bases in North and Northeast Brazil,5 he should be in a position to present to the Congress a clear portrayal of Brazilian reciprocal defense obligations and benefits in agreement with this Government. He evidently believes that this portrayal should be in some or all of the following forms: (1) a publicly presentable form of as many as possible of the undertakings of this Government in the secret Political-Military Agreement of 1942;6 (2) indications, as concrete as possible, that this Government is assisting or will assist Brazil in developing its economic production; (3) indications, as concrete as possible, that this Government will provide training in the United States for a large number of Brazilian Army and Navy personnel; and (4) indications, as concrete as possible, that this Government will assist the Brazilian Government in obtaining ground, sea, and air matériel in sufficient quantities so that [Page 550] Brazilian personnel trained in the United States can pass on this instruction to the Brazilian armed forces.
The Department fully appreciates all of the considerations set forth in your despatch no. 1272 and is most desirous of cooperating with the President of Brazil and the Brazilian Government in every possible way.
With respect to consideration (1) mentioned in the preceding recapitulation, the Department does not consider that it can make a public assertion of defense undertakings with Brazil beyond those which are set forth in the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance7 and other inter-American undertakings. It is believed that President Dutra will appreciate that such a public declaration or agreement would be inconsistent with the multilateral arrangements among the American states. However, President Dutra might find it helpful to convey to the Brazilian Congress or Congressional leaders the assurances which were outlined in the Department’s secret telegram no. 858 of December 30, 1948,8 that is, there, should be no doubt whatsoever as to the desire of this country to encourage and stimulate the historic friendship and traditional cooperation in Brazilian–United States relations and the wish of this Government to do everything it can to this end. It is the earnest desire and intention of this Government to continue to do everything possible to maintain the close coordination of foreign policy with Brazil. There is no lack of appreciation and understanding as regards the quality of cooperation which was extended by Brazil during the recent conflict, and this Government certainly is fully alive to the sacrifices which were made by the Brazilian people. Furthermore, you may assure President Dutra that the Government of the United States is disposed to explore and discuss with the Brazilian Government at any time any measures which the Brazilian Government may wish to suggest towards the maintenance and the further development of the close political, economic, and military cooperation which has existed between the two countries for so many years.
With respect to (2) in the preceding recapitulation, this Government is at present extending economic assistance to Brazil in various forms, one of the more conspicuous of which is the cooperative study effort of the mixed Brazil–United States Technical Commission.9 While the report of the Commission may not be specific in recommending the development of particular projects, nonetheless it is hoped that it will in its final form be helpful to Brazil in the future [Page 551] as a guide towards further economic development. This report should constitute an important contribution towards the end mentioned by General Obino in his secret memorandum. The Embassy is fully informed with respect to other measures of economic assistance, in the form of credits, technical advice and grants, and these could be usefully recapitulated for President Dutra.
With respect to (3) in the preceding recapitulation, the National Military Establishment of this Government is prepared to continue or possibly increase its training program for members of the Brazilian armed forces. There must be, of course, certain limitations upon this program such as, for instance, the availability of facilities.
With respect to (4) in the preceding recapitulation, the Department wishes to point out that the present session of Congress will consider legislation pointing towards arms assistance to friendly powers. If such legislation is approved and if Latin American countries are included, Brazil can be assured of a favorable position among the American republics. Pending the passage of such legislation, the National Military Establishment of this Government is prepared to assist the Brazilian authorities in every possible way in finding commercial sources of supply for essential matériel, and the Department will of course facilitate export licenses for such matériel.
It is the understanding of the Secretary of State that the competent Army, Navy, and Air Force officials in Washington are communicating with their representatives at Bio de Janeiro with reference to the secret memorandum from General Obino. It is hoped that in due course each of these Departments will instruct its representatives to reassure the military personnel of Brazil of the desire of this Government to participate in a full and very frank exchange of views and comments as to how the military cooperation between the two countries can be maintained and improved. These conversations would, of course, be preliminary and exploratory. The Secretary also understands that, so far as the Department of the Air Force is concerned, its representatives are being instructed to point out to the Brazilians that it is the opinion of this Government that the secret air agreement is adequate to cover any problems which may arise as regards the air bases in the North and Northeastern sections of Brazil. It is further understood that, at least for the present, the Department of the Air Force does not anticipate being able to offer any actual financial assistance to the Brazilian Air Force for the repair and maintenance of these air bases, but the Department of the Air Force has already made available to the Brazilian Air Force for this work certain personnel for technical advice and assistance and a minimum outlay of air base and air base maintenance equipment. It is felt that, if the work [Page 552] now being done by the Brazilian Air Force for the repair and maintenance of these bases is continued generally in accordance with the proposals submitted by U.S. Air Force personnel in Brazil, within a comparatively short time these air bases will be placed in a state of repair which would permit their utilization should an emergency arise.
It is suggested that you may wish to arrange an interview with President Dutra and at the time of this interview convey to the President the substance of this instruction and the assurances of the American Government that it is this Government’s intention and desire to do everything possible which will encourage the fullest cooperation between our two countries.
Very truly yours,
- Neither the despatch nor the memorandum is printed.↩
- Maj. Gen. William H. H. Morris.↩
- Eurico Gaspar Dutra.↩
- For documentation on the agreement of June 14, 1944, granting the United States air base rights in Brazil, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. vii, pp. 543 ff.; the text of the agreement itself is printed ibid., p. 561.↩
- Not printed, see ibid., 1942, vol. v, p. 662.↩
- Text in Department of State Treaties and Other International Acts Series (TIAS) No. 1838, and 62 Stat. (pt. 2) 1681.↩
- Not printed.↩
- See infra. ↩