Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The United Nations; The Western Hemisphere, Volume II

711.32/5–449

The Ambassador in Brazil (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

top secret

Rio de Janeiro, May 4, 1949.

No. 388

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s Top Secret despatch No. 1272 of November 23, 1948,¹ with which was transmitted to the Department a letter from General Salvador Cesar Obino, President of the Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission to Major General William H. H. Morris, Jr., Chief of the United States Delegation on that Commission in which, after referring to air bases in Northeastern Brazil, the Brazilian Government proposed, among other things, an accord between Brazil and the United States.² Reference is also made to the Department’s Top Secret instruction No. 39 of February 11, 1949, in which I was authorized to express certain observations on this question to President Dutra, and to my Top Secret telegram No. 329 of May 3, in which an account of my interview with the President was set forth.³

As stated in my telegram under reference, General Morris on April 25 presented a letter dated April 23 to General Obino which incorporated the views received by the American Delegation of the Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission from the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington. Before this letter was presented to General Obino, its text was cleared with me by General Morris. A copy of the letter as delivered is enclosed herewith for the records of the Department.

Following a detailed study of the Department’s instruction under reference, and subsequent to the delivery of General Morris’ letter to General Obino, I saw President. Dutra on the morning of May 3. As stated in my telegram referred to above, at that time I orally conveyed to the President those portions of the Department’s instruction of February 11 which it seemed to me suitable to make use of at that time. I left with the President an Aide-Mémoire covering these remarks, a copy of which is transmitted herewith as enclosure No. 2 to this despatch.

Respectfully yours,

Herschel V. Johnson

Enclosure 1

23 April 1949.

U.S. Delegation Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Subject: Air Bases in Northeastern Brazil

To: His Excellency, The Chief of the Joint General Staff and The President of the Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission.

1. In your Excellency’s letter of 8 November 1948 there was proposed the establishment of an accord between Brazil and the United States, in which accord would be listed the reciprocal obligations to be assumed by the contracting Governments and the conditions established whereby the construction and utilization of the bases and of the inherent technical services could be realized.

2. This proposal has been studied by the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff. We are advised to bring your Excellency’s attention to the following conclusions:

a. A program of legislation is in preparation which considers United States military aid and assistance to many nations throughout the world, including the American States. This has direct bearing on the obligations assumed under the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance.

b. The Inter-American Defense Board constitutes an agency suitable for the purpose of advising the Organization of American States in the matter of collective defense.

c. The Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission and the Joint Brazil–United States Defense Commission should be considered supplemental to the larger Inter-American Defense Board in the determination of United States–Brazil mutual defense requirements and responsibilities.

d. When the United States military members of the Inter-American Defense Board, the Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission, and the Joint Brazil–United States Defense Commission are placed under the Joint-Chiefs of Staff, those United States delegations will then receive the necessary broad policy guidance for an eventual Western Hemisphere defense scheme.

e. When a Western Hemisphere defense scheme is approved for planning purposes, the Joint Chiefs of Staff can then recommend regarding the assumption of additional United States military obligations with respect to the various South American countries, including Brazil.

3. The Joint Chiefs of Staff further advise us that it would not be inappropriate for the Members of the Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission to study the matter of the collective defense of Brazil. This study should supplement a Western Hemisphere defense study by the Inter-American Defense Board. The ultimate specific international obligations to be assumed by the signatory nations of the Liter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance will depend very largely upon the requirements developed in this defense scheme.

4. Your Excellency’s attention is invited to the study submitted to your Excellency by the U.S. Delegation on 4 May 1948.⁴ Although the title of the letter is “Coast and Air Defense of Brazil,” the scope of the study far exceeds that indicated by the title. It is felt that this study would be of great value in preparing a more complete study embodying the subjects mentioned in your Excellency’s letter of proposal.

5. If your Excellency is in accord with the suggestions stated in paragraphs 3 and 4 above, the U.S. Delegation is eager to participate in whatever manner your Excellency desires.

6. Again may I reaffirm our protestations of esteem and zeal in the continuance of high cooperation between our countries.

William H. H. Morris, Jr.

Major General, U.S.A.
Senior U.S. Member
U.S. Delegation, JBUSMC

Enclosure 2

Aide-Mémoire

Under date of November 8, 1948, General Salvador Cesar Obino, President of the Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission, addressed a letter to Major General William H. H. Morris, Jr., Chief of the United States Delegation on that Commission, with certain references to air bases in Northeastern Brazil. The Ambassador of the United States ventures to offer His Excellency, President Dutra, certain observations which have been communicated by his Government on the letter of November 8 just referred to. First of all, Mr. Johnson would like to say that the United States Government is most desirous of cooperating with His Excellency, President Dutra, and with the Government of Brazil in every possible way.

Mr. Johnson has had several occasions in recent months to convey to high officials of the Government of Brazil the firm assurance that there should be no doubt whatsoever as to the desire of the United States Government to encourage and to stimulate the historic friendship and traditional cooperation in Brazilian–United States relations, and that it is the wish of the United States Government to do everything it can to this end. Mr. Johnson is authorized by his Government to reiterate these assurances of which he, in fact, is confident the Brazilian Government already has no doubt.

It is the earnest desire and intention of the United States Government to continue to do everything possible to maintain close coordination of foreign policies with Brazil. There is no lack of appreciation and understanding with respect to the quality of cooperation which was extended by Brazil during the recent war, and the United States Government certainly is fully alive to the sacrifices which were made by the people of Brazil. The United States Government has authorized the Ambassador to assure His Excellency, President Dutra, that it is disposed to explore and discuss with the Brazilian Government at any time measures which the Brazilian Government may wish to suggest toward the maintenance and further development of the close political, economic and military cooperation which has existed between the two countries for so many years.

In regard to the specific suggestion that an accord listing the reciprocal obligations assumed between Brazil and the United States be established, Mr. Johnson regrets to state, however, that his Government does not consider it can make a public assertion of defense undertakings with Brazil, beyond those which are set forth in the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance and other inter-American undertakings. The United States Government is confident that His Excellency, President Dutra, will appreciate that such an agreement publicly declared would be inconsistent with the multilateral arrangements now existing amongst the American states.

With respect to the desire expressed by General Obino on behalf of the Government of Brazil that the United States should provide training in the United States for a large number of Brazilian Army and Navy personnel, Mr. Johnson has been authorized by his Government to inform His Excellency, President Dutra, that the United States National Military Establishment is prepared to continue or possibly to increase its training program to members of the Brazilian armed forces. There must of necessity be certain limitations upon this program such, for instance, as availability of facilities.

With respect to the desire of the Brazilian Government, expressed in General Obino’s letter, for assistance from the United States in obtaining ground, sea, and air matériel in sufficient quantities so that Brazilian personnel training in the United States can pass on this instruction to the Brazilian armed forces, Mr. Johnson ventures to point out that the present session of the United States Congress will consider legislation pointing towards arms assistance to friendly powers. If such legislation is approved, and if the other American Republics are included, Brazil can be assured of a favorable position among these Republics. Pending the passage of such legislation, the National Military Establishment of the United States Government is prepared to assist Brazilian authorities in every possible way in finding commercial sources of supply for essential matériel, and export licenses for such matériel will be facilitated.

As His Excellency, President Dutra, is aware, the Senior United States member of the United States Delegation to the Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission has already brought to the attention of the Chief of the Joint General Staff of Brazil the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, on military cooperation between the two countries. In this communication the feeling of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was pointed out that it would not be inappropriate for the members of the Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission to study the matter of the collective defense of Brazil.

In conclusion, the Ambassador would like to convey to His Excellency, President Dutra, the assurances of the Government of the United States that it is its intention and desire to do everything possible which will encourage the fullest cooperation between the two countries.⁵

Rio de Janeiro, May 3, 1949.

1. Not printed.
2. Further information on the Brazilian document is provided in instruction 39, February 11, 1949, to Rio de Janeiro, p. 549.
3. See footnote 5, p. 571.
4. Not printed.

5. In telegram 329, May 3, from Rio de Janeiro, Ambassador Johnson reported President Dutra’s reaction to the Ambassador’s remarks, which were embodied in the above aide-mémoire. The pertinent portion of telegram 329 read as follows:

   “President Dutra expressed his appreciation for assurances given by US Government and for way in which General Obino correspondence had been handled. He expressed himself as understanding fact that US action was in part contingent on legislative authorization. He also indicated an understanding of our position that it would not be practicable to make public an assertion of defense undertakings with Brazil beyond those which are set forth in the inter-American treaty of reciprocal assistance and other interim undertakings. He mentioned with appreciation training of Brazilian defense forces which is now being carried on by US military establishments.” (711.32/5–349)