Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973–1976

111. Telegram 2866 From the Embassy in Brazil to the Department of State¹

Brasília, April 15, 1975, 1930Z.

2866. For Assistant Secretary Rogers from the Ambassador. Subject: Sec Visit LA: Possible Address to Brazilian Political Situation.

1. It would be useful for the Secretary, during the course of his meeting with President Geisel and possible conversations with General Golbery, Chief of the Civil Household, to inquire carefully about the Brazilian political situation, especially the outlook for decompression.

2. Presumably the Secretary will be addressing, either on his own initiative or in response to questions from Geisel, current political dynamics in the US as they affect foreign affairs (e.g., the executive-legislative relationship, the temper of Congress and public opinion). In this kind of context it would be natural and appropriate for the Secretary to ask a general question about Brazilian political evolution. I would hope that, in the course of this discussion, the Secretary could observe that we have watched with interest and admiration the President’s efforts to bring about, slowly and surely, a political environment in keeping with the growing complexity of Brazilian society created by its rapid economic growth. The Secretary should also note that we are fully aware of the delicacy and subtlety of the task that the President has undertaken, that we understand that indeed there have been some recent difficulties, and that, as friends of Brazil and believers in its bright future, we wish the President well in his efforts.

3. Depending on the course of the conversation, there may be an opportunity in this framework for the Secretary to mention the human rights question, noting that this is a matter of widespread interest in the United States, that concerned sectors of opinion recognize that one of the objectives of the decompression process is to improve the observance of human rights, and that this is another important reason for our hopes that the process can continue.

4. Concerning Golbery, the Department is aware of the current attacks that he, as the architect of decompression, with possible Presidential ambitions, is under from hardliners, who view him with extreme suspicion. Because of his somewhat exposed position, I believe that too obvious an effort to seek him out might redound to his disadvantage. Therefore, we will seek opportunities for the Secretary to have brief chats, as private as possible, with him at the Itamaraty working lunch and dinner. The Secretary could take the same line with him as that sketched out above for the meeting with the President.

5. I would be grateful for your comments.

Crimmins

1. Summary: Crimmins suggested possible topics for Kissinger’s prospective trip to Brazil. Specifically, the Ambassador requested that the Secretary raise with Geisel political liberalization, in particular human rights abuses.

   Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Trip Briefing Books and Cables of Henry Kissinger, Box 8, 4/75 Latin America (trip cancelled). Confidential; Priority; Stadis; Exdis. Because of the impending collapse of the South Vietnamese Government and crises in the Middle East, Kissinger’s visit to Latin America was postponed until 1976.