Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The American Republics, Volume VII

832.24/3000b

The Secretary of State to the Brazilian Ambassador (Martins)

Washington, May 31, 1944.

Excellency: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s Note of December 16, 1942⁸⁹ concerning the presentation of schedules and accounts of deliveries of, and payment for, defense articles made available to the Brazilian Government under the terms of the Lend-Lease Agreement signed on October 1, 1941 and the Supplementary Agreement signed on March 3, 1942 between representatives of the United States of America and the United States of Brazil.⁹⁰

In this connection there are enclosed two copies of a statement prepared by the Foreign Economic Administration⁹¹ listing the materials and equipment transferred to the Government of Brazil up to the date of March 31, 1944. It is noted that the total amount of the items listed is $93,753,128.35. In addition to the copies of the statement mentioned, there are enclosed detailed schedules and lists of supplies and equipment⁹³ arranged under the headings of the respective divisions of the agencies through which the materials were obtained. It will be noted that there are also enclosed duplicate copies of Schedule A, prepared by the Air Corps, and of Schedules C and D, prepared by the Bureau of Ordnance of the United States War Department.

The Department will submit at a later date a supplementary statement which will include such additional items as may be delivered to the Government of Brazil subsequent to March 31, 1944 and which do not appear in the enclosed statement.

With a view to facilitating the payments which His Excellency the Finance Minister has stated that the Brazilian Government wishes to make, I should be pleased if you would be so kind as to transmit the enclosed schedules and accounts to the appropriate officials of the Brazilian Government to the end that steps could be taken to effect the payments to this Government in the amounts and in the manner prescribed in Article III of the March 3, 1942 Agreement.

Payment may now be made in the amount of $23,333,333.33 which fell due on January 1, 1944, in the form of a check drawn to the order of the Treasurer of the United States of America, which could be sent to this Department for appropriate disposition.

For reasons of military security, may I request that the schedules and accounts which are enclosed herewith be treated by Your Excellency’s Government on a most confidential basis.

Accept [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:

Dean Acheson

89. Not printed.
90. For correspondence on the negotiation of the Lend-Lease Agreement between the United States and Brazil, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. vi, pp. 528 ff., and ibid., 1942, vol. v, pp. 815 ff.
91. Statement of March 31, 1944; not printed.
93. Not printed.