Office of the Historian

298. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the President1

Washington, October 29, 1960.

SUBJECT

  • Invitation to Brazilian President-elect to Visit the United States

We are aware that the President-elect of Brazil, Janio Quadros, is interested in visiting the United States during the course of a pre-inaugural trip to various countries. He has not yet approached us directly concerning such a visit, and it appears likely that he is waiting for us to make the first advances.

I believe that an invitation to Sr. Quadros to visit this country would assist greatly in promoting close relations with the new Brazilian administration. Brazil’s good will and cooperation are essential to us in dealing with hemispheric problems, especially the threat of Communist subversion and the Castro influence.

A state visit by Quadros after he takes office on January 31, 1961, rather than a pre-inaugural visit, would have many advantages for all concerned, but our own election makes it difficult, if not impossible, to extend now an invitation for such a state visit. At the same time, I am concerned that any substantial delay in the extension of an invitation to Quadros may be taken as an affront by him. I believe that the best interests of the United States therefore would be served by an immediate invitation to Sr. Quadros to visit the United States as President-elect, preferably in the latter part of November or the first part of December.

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In connection with any such visit, I believe it would be appropriate for you to send the Columbine III to the port of entry into the United States to bring Sr. Quadros to Washington, to give a dinner in his honor, to receive him for an office call, and to direct the Department of Defense to make a suitable aircraft available on a nonreimbursable basis for the remainder of his visit. Sr. Quadros would, of course, expect to meet also with our own President-elect.

If you approve of the extension of an official invitation to Sr. Quadros on this basis, I shall be glad to arrange for our Ambassador in Brazil to invite Sr. Quadros on your behalf.2

Christian A. Herter3
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 732.11/10–2960. Official Use Only. Drafted by Jackson W. Wilson on October 26.↩
  2. President Eisenhower agreed to see President-elect Quadros and host a luncheon for him during the first week of December. (Memorandum of a conversation between Secretary Herter and the President, November 9; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries) The source text bears the following notation: “Telegram to London conveying invitation approved 11/10/60 (Gen. Goodpaster to Mr. Stoessel).” Quadros had gone to London reportedly for an eye operation.↩
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩