Office of the Historian

116. Telegram 146237 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Brazil1

Washington, June 20, 1975, 2341Z.

146237. Subject: FRG-Brazil Nuclear Accord: Personal Message From the Secretary. For Ambassador from the Secretary. Ref: Brasília 4875.

1. Please deliver following message to Foreign Minister Silveira:

2. Begin quote: Dear Antonio: Ambassador Crimmins told me about his talk with you on Brazil’s nuclear agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany. I was heartened by your statement that the public discussion of this matter must not be allowed to affect the present cordial and constructive relationship between our two countries. Though we are concerned about the agreement, from the proliferation point of view, I fully share with you this basic point.

3. We did not invite, and in fact regret, the public debate. We would have much preferred that the matter remain in diplomatic channels. The short statements which Foreign Minister Genscher and I made on June 16 were designed to lay to rest some of the misunderstandings which have affected the press treatment of the agreement, and to calm the public temper. I hope we have done so.

4. We understand and support Brazil’s desire to expand its use of nuclear energy as a tool for development. Count on our cooperation and assistance in your endeavor where Brazil considers it useful, to the limit permitted by our overall nuclear policy. And let us continue to exchange views on our common aim of avoiding the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the hemisphere.

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5. As always, I look forward to having your thoughts.

6. Warmest personal regards, Henry A. Kissinger. End quote.

Kissinger

  1. Summary: Kissinger informed Silveira that he understood Brazil’s need for nuclear energy and did not want Brazil’s agreement with the FRG to obtain nuclear materials to damage the overall relationship between the United States and Brazil. At the same time, the Secretary was concerned about the implications for nuclear proliferation of the Brazil-FRG agreement.

    Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750217–0235. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated to Bonn, Vienna, and the Mission to the IAEA. Drafted by Rogers; cleared by Kahan, Ballantyne, Opplinger, Boright, Hoyle, Sonnenfeldt, and Kuchel; approved by Kissinger. The Crimmins-Silveira conversation is summarized in telegram 4875 from Brasília, June 18. (Ibid., D750211–0866) In telegram 138496 to Brasília, June 13, the Department reported on a discussion with Araujo Castro regarding Brazil’s negative reaction to the public debate over the Brazil-FRG nuclear agreement, which was criticized by U.S. officials. (Ibid., D750206–1167) The June 16 conversation between Kissinger and Genscher on the Brazil-FRG nuclear agreement is summarized in telegram 150292 to Brasília, June 25. (Ibid., D750221–0436) In Silveira’s response to Kissinger, June 29, he stated that there had “been a fair amount of misinformation as to the nature of the agreement and undue haste in the evaluation of the Brazilian purposes.” (Telegram 153500/Tosec 50022 to Kissinger, June 29; ibid., D750225–0453)

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