Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, American Republics, Volume V

288. Memorandum of a Conversation, White House, Washington, March 18, 1960¹

Washington, March 18, 1960

SUBJECT

• The Brazilian Foreign Minister’s Call on The President

PARTICIPANTS

• The President
• Brazilian Foreign Minister Horacio Lafer
• Ambassador Moreira Salles
• Assistant Secretary Rubottom

The Foreign Minister began by telling the President that his trip to Brazil had been a tremendous success. The President expressed appreciation for the reception which had been given him by the Brazilian Government and people, saying that he had told many since his return about the project being carried out at Brasilia. He expressed the hope that it would meet with success and that it would serve as a rallying point for the development of the interior of the country.

The Foreign Minister told the President that he had enjoyed his visit to Canada and was pleased to report that the Canadian Government had, for the first time, stated in the joint declaration² released at the time of his departure that Canada would examine all possibilities of increasing cooperation with the rest of the Americas. The President expressed satisfaction with this news, recalling that Canada had traditionally looked to the East and the West rather than southward, even eschewing “America” in its own name and in any references to itself.

The Foreign Minister asked the President his impression of Argentina. The President replied that the Argentines were carrying forward their program steadfastly although they still face many problems. He did not feel that he had quite as much opportunity to know Argentina as he had had to know Brazil, although he had covered quite a bit of territory. The President alluded briefly to his pleasant visits in Chile and Uruguay, deprecating the significance of the two student demonstrations against him in Montevideo as compared with the over-all reception. He stressed the importance, however, of answering directly whatever complaints the students might have regarding the United States, citing the way in which he had replied briefly but directly to the so-called students’ letter in Santiago.³ He said that he understood that the letter had actually been drafted by one of the leftist professors although signed by two students, leaders of the federation. The President observed that while the letter ostensibly was critical of certain United States policies, it also was quite critical of the Chilean Government by implication. He urged Mr. Rubottom to expedite the Department’s preparation of a complete reply to be transmitted to the students through Ambassador Howe.⁴

The President referred to the importance of educating citizens at large in the importance of government stability, especially with respect to fiscal policy. He said that we had work still to do in that respect in our own country. He felt that it was especially important to convey this message to student groups and labor unions.

The President asked the Foreign Minister his views regarding the Cuban situation. Ambassador Moreira Salles pointed out that the Minister, in a CBS interview on his arrival in New York, had replied to a query by the interviewer that he felt Cuba’s actions against the United States were not justified. The President recalled a statement made to him in Uruguay that Castro, the revolutionary, had been a hero, whereas Castro, the political leader, was a failure.

Mr. Rubottom told the President that the New York Journal American on March 16 had published an interview between President Kubitschek and William Randolph Hearst, Jr., in which the President had offered Brazil’s assistance in improving U.S.-Cuban relations. Mr. Rubottom said that the Department on March 17 had, through its press officer, expressed appreciation for this generous offer by President Kubitschek but had explained that it intended to pursue its problems with Cuba through regular bilateral discussions.⁵

The President stressed his view that the Cuban problem was a problem affecting all of the Americas and was not just a United States problem. The Foreign Minister nodded agreement.

Prior to the termination of the discussion and the entry of the photographers, the Foreign Minister leaned over to tell the President that President Kubitschek was very hopeful that Brazil and the United States could work together for the successful culmination of Operation Pan America, including the forthcoming meetings of the Committee of 9 and the Committee of 21.

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. Confidential. Drafted by Rubottom.
2. A copy of the communiqué, dated March 17, issued in Ottawa is in Department of State, ARA/EST Files: Lot 62 D 308, ARA/EST/B 1960 Files.
3. The letter to President Eisenhower of February 24 and President Eisenhower’s remarks of March 1 in Santiago concerning it are published in the microfiche supplement to this volume; see Document 302.
4. Ambassador Howe’s April 8 letter to Patricio Fernández, President of the Federation of Students of Chile, is published in the microfiche supplement to this volume; see Document 302.
5. A copy of the Department of State Daily News Conference for March 17 is in Department of State, S/PRS Files: Lot 77 D 11.