832.24/2909: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)
1083. Your 1056, March 21 and Department’s 950, March 22.81 War Department advises that it has recommended to the Munitions Assignments Board the allocation to Brazil of 3500 trucks to be released [Page 579] over a period of time in accordance with the availability of the vehicles and shipping space. You will be notified as soon as the MAB has taken final action.
This order will be filled, if given final approval, with reconditioned trucks, in whole or in part. If any questions are raised in this connection, you may inform the Brazilian authorities that this same practice is now being followed with our own troops, particularly in non-combat areas. This Government is fully aware of the urgency of the problem and deliveries will begin at the earliest practicable moment after final approval.
With respect to commercial trucks (your 1117, March 24, etc.), efforts are now being made to secure from current production 1172 medium units, comprising 528 Chevrolet, 430 Ford and 214 International K5, shipments to commence immediately on receipt of WPB82 approval. It is hoped that this whole quantity will be under way by June 1, others to follow in smaller lots as production and allocations permit.
You may suggest to importers of spare parts and accessories that they submit orders for additional stocks, having regard only to unshipped orders and to what they can reasonably use in the immediate future. Attempts to build up stocks for future use will prejudice Brazil’s position in later allocations. FEA83 has agreed that reasonable orders subject to these conditions will not be held up even if they exceed existing quotas.