740.00114 European War 1939/3284
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery)
Sir: Reference is made to a number of prisoners of war captured by the United States armed forces who it is understood have been [Page 628] transferred to the custody of the Brazilian Government. You are requested to inquire whether, in order to effect economies in transportation, the Brazilian Government would consider accepting, with the full rights and obligations of the Captor Power, the transfer to its custody of additional prisoners of war captured by the United States armed forces, the total number of prisoners of war transferred not to exceed three thousand.
You should inform the appropriate Brazilian authorities that all prisoners of war held by the United States authorities receive the treatment provided for by the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention29 to which the United States Government is a party and that it is understood that since the Brazilian Government also is a party to this Convention like treatment is extended to prisoners of war held by that Government.
You are requested also to inform the appropriate Brazilian authorities that the United States would be grateful if the Brazilian Government would give this matter sympathetic consideration and to transmit to the Department by air mail despatch a detailed report of the Brazilian Government’s reply.
Very truly yours,
- Signed July 27, 1929, Foreign Relations, 1929, vol. i, p. 336.↩