500.CC/9–1244
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Director of the Office of American Republic Affairs (Armour)
The Brazilian Ambassador2 told me that he had just learned of a despatch from Washington published in Brazil to the effect that certain of the American republics had agreed together to have China represent them at the Dumbarton Oaks Conference and that the Ambassadors of Brazil and Peru were present at a meeting at which this was decided. Dr. Martins said that he had tried to run down the origin of this ridiculous report: he had ascertained that neither the AP nor the UP had sent it and he was at a loss to know how such an absurd rumor had started. I told the Ambassador I was afraid I could throw no light on it but I would see if I could find out anything, but in the meantime advised him not to worry about it as I was sure that no one would take it seriously.
The Ambassador then went on to explain his difficulties and those of his government arising from the complete ignorance in which they had been kept as to the progress of the Dumbarton Oaks Conference. While he appeared to understand the problem, he explained that President Vargas and the Foreign Office were considerably embarrassed by having to admit that they knew nothing other than what they had seen in the press regarding the negotiations and that for that matter even the Argentine Government probably knew as much as they did. Dr. Martins said that various journalists and other Brazilians who had come up from Brazil had mentioned this to him and while he did not wish to embarrass the Department by seeming to be too insistent, he would greatly appreciate anything that could be done to inform him at least in a general way as to the course the negotiations were taking.
I told the Ambassador that this was a matter that had given all of us some concern and that the Secretary himself had studied the possibility [Page 925] of some way in which the other American republics and their representatives here in Washington could be kept informed. With that end in view at least two informative telegrams have been sent to our various missions for the information of the governments,3 and I told the Ambassador we would be very glad to see that the information in these messages was brought to his attention. I added that I would also speak to the Secretary as to the possibility of having some further information on this subject communicated to him. I knew that it was the Secretary’s intention later to call in the American chiefs of mission and give them a summary of events to date, but I was not sure just when this meeting would be. Furthermore, I said that once the negotiations had terminated and the document had been approved it would be communicated to the various American governments including his own, and at that time consultations would be initiated and ideas exchanged. To the Ambassador’s query as to whether a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the American republics would be called, I said that I thought this would largely depend on various factors, including the time set for the general world conference.…
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- The omitted portion of this memorandum related to cancellation of a meeting between Argentine and Brazilian army officers, and to the resignation of Oswaldo Aranha, Brazilian Foreign Minister, on August 22, 1944.↩
- Carlos Martins Pereira e Sousa.↩
- Circular telegrams of August 29 and September 6, 1944; neither printed.↩