Office of the Historian

233. Telegram From the Embassy in Brazil to the Department of State1

Rio de Janeiro, February 25, 1958—8 p.m.

1098. During conversation with President Kubitschek on other matters he made point that in difficult economic situation facing Brazil particularly surplus of coffee, administration is under great and growing pressure to deal with Soviet bloc. He said his government’s ability to resist that pressure might be affected by extent to which U.S. is able to assist Brazil to meet current economic crisis, along lines recently advanced to Embassy Rio and thru Brazilian Embassy in Washington.

Although these remarks were made in another context, I mention them as confirming President’s support of Alkmim’s initiative and of his preoccupation concerning deterioration economic position. (I did not pursue subject with Kubitschek since it was not germane to purpose of my visit.)

Briggs
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 832.10/2–2558. Secret.↩