Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, American Republics: Central and South America, Volume VII

371. Telegram From the Ambassador in Brazil (Briggs) to the Department of State¹

Rio de Janeiro, December 27, 1957—6 p.m.

802. Embassy notes with concern suggestion in ARA memo to Under Secretary Murphy dated December 6, 1957² that United States postpone notifying Brazil our decision abandon Maceio and Loran projects because of recent Brazil manifestations of interest in NATO. We doubt that remarks of Foreign Minister Macedo Soares were motivated by consideration of influencing current United States–Brazil military talks in Washington; rather we believe his action reflects continuing Brazil interest project itself on world stage, as well as genuine concern solidarity free world in face Soviet efforts extract political, economic and military benefits from Sputnik achievements. Foreign Minister’s observations were in any event notably qualified by official communiqué of December 5 (Embassy telegram 709).³

Embassy strongly of opinion continued delay notifying Brazil regarding Maceio and Loran projects and related delay in reaching decision on additional military assistance in Washington military talks bound to rebound increasingly to our disadvantage. Considerations set forth in Siracusa memo October 5 to Rubottom in connection over-all discussion problem with General Trapnell in our view remain complete valid. If we dilly-dally much longer on military aid question Brazil reaction can be distinctly embarrassing.

In this connection be it noted that first anniversary Fernando de Noronha agreement comes January 21. Brazil cooperation in all phases implementation agreement here and on the spot in Recife and Noronha has been markedly close and effective. If military aid talks continue stagnant and unproductive we can expect some unpleasant commentaries and increasingly negative attitude from Brazilians. This would be particularly unfortunate right now when USSR and Soviet Bloc busily wooing Brazilians on political and economic fronts.⁴

Briggs

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.56332/12–2757. Confidential.
2. Not found in Department of State files.
3. Telegram 709, December 6, transmitted to the Department the text of a Brazilian Foreign Office communiqué regarding the possibility of Brazil joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The statement indicated that Brazil was not seeking admission to NATO and that it could not consider possible membership without first carefully studying the effect of such a position on the inter-American system of hemisphere defense. (Department of State, Central Files, 740.5/12–657)
4. In telegram 761 to Rio de Janeiro, January 8, 1958, the Department explained that Rubottom would inform Peixoto on January 10 of the U.S. desire to terminate the Maceió and Loran negotiations since a reevaluation by the Signal Corps and the Coast Guard had resulted in the decision that the United States would no longer require those facilities. No information regarding U.S. consideration of an alternate site, the Department pointed out, should be given to the Brazilians. (Ibid., 711.56332/12–2757)