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THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
THE BRAZILIAN
GREEN BOOK
CONSISTING OF DIPLOMATIC DOCU-
MENTS RELATING TO BRAZIL'S
ATTITUDE WITH REGARD TO THE
EUROPEAN WAR :: :: 1914— 1917
AS ISSUED BY THE BRAZILIAN
MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AUTHORIZED ENGLISH VERSION, WITH AN
INTRODUCTION and NOTES by ANDREW BOYLE
LONDON : GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN LTD.
RUSKIN HOUSE 40 MUSEUM STREET W.C. i.
NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
First published in igiB
t)
{All rights reserved)
INTRODUCTION
The attitude of the Brazilian Government at the outbreak of
the war was extremely correct. If ** the sympathies of public
opinion favoured the liberal cause of the Allies/' as the President
stated in his reply to the Pope's Peace Note, when the recog-
nition of a state of war with Germany gave him greater freedom
of speech, the action of the Government gave evidence of the
highest conception of neutrality. This attitude was consis-
tently maintained until, at the beginning of 1917, the German
Government gave notice of unrestricted submarine warfare.
The Brazilian Government did not hesitate then to declare
(February 9, 1917) through its representative in Berlin, that
it could not accept the proposed blockade as effective, and left
with the Imperial German Government full responsibility for
anything that might happen to Brazilian interests thereby ; it
made clear further (February 13) that no Brazilian ship should
be attacked on any pretext whatever. This was as far as it
was prepared to go at the time, waiting for some concrete out-
rage on its sovereignty before taking further action. On this
account, it replied to President Wilson's invitation (February 5)
to break off relations with Germany, by stating (February 8)
the attitude it had assumed.
This was followed, two months later, by the torpedoing
(April 4) of the Brazilian ship Parand. An inquiry having
estabUshed the guilt of Germany, the Brazihan Government
proceeded to break off diplomatic relations with that country.
In the note announcing this to the German Minister, the Brazilian
Foreign Office set forth its arguments, basing them upon the
opinion of German and Brazilian jurists. Beyond cancelling
the exequatur of German Consuls in Brazil and exercising, for
the public safety, supervision to prevent the destruction, by the
crews, of the interned German ships, iio reprisals were taken as
yet, and Germany was still treated as a neutral.
Thus the announcement (April 7) of a state of war between
the United States of America and Germany was followed
6 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
(April 25) by a decree proclaiming Brazil's neutrality : this
decree was not exactly similar to the previous decrees of neu-
traUty, and expressly stated that neutrality was to be observed
until the contrary was ordered. Yet it cannot be said to
have represented the will of the country, but, as the President
pointed out in his Message to Congress (May 22), the Government
could not juridically go further than that ; it was for the country,
through its representatives in Congress, to take up a new attitude.
In any case, one of the results, not necessarily direct, of this
decree, was the resignation of General Lauro Miiller, the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the appointment of Dr. Nilo
Pe^anha in his place.
This change was followed by the return of Brazil to her
former policy of continental soUdarity, and the President
recommended Congress (May 22) to give effect to this policy
by adopting the attitude that Brazil could not remain neutral
towards the United States when involved, in defence of her
rights, with a foreign Power, since she was united to that
country by bonds of the closest friendship. The Message was
deUvered at the time when it was announced that the Brazilian
ship Tijuca had been torpedoed. Congress adopted a resolution
to revoke Brazil's neutrality with respect to the United States,
and, as a reprisal for the torpedoing of the l^ijuca, authorized
the Executive Power to utilize the German ships in Brazilian
harbours. To Germany's protest, through the Netherlands
Legation, against this utilization, the Brazilian Foreign Office
replied by quoting the German jurist Heffter on the subject
of reprisals.
The revocation of Brazilian neutrality was thought to afford
an opportunity to address to the friendly Powers a circular
note explaining the Brazilian attitude towards the United
States along the hnes of Pan-Americanism, and formulating
the now well-known interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine in
the form of continental solidarity.
The effect of this note among the nations of America must
be reckoned according to expectations. The most direct result
was the Uruguayan Decree of June 18, by which Uruguay
refused to consider as a belUgerent any American nation, which,
in defence of her rights, was involved in a war with a Power of
another continent. Paraguay had already (April 16) spoken
of the modification which neutraUty must suffer under such
circumstances.
The Argentine reply to the note was no more than formal ;
the Chilian reply was more cordial in tone, but equally unob-
THEfBRAZILIANiGREEN BOOK 7
jective. It was clear that the Governments of neither of these
two countries felt themselves obliged to adopt any particular
attitude of continental soUdarity. The suggestion at this time
of an American Congress of Neutrals, which rapidly threatened
to become an Hispano-American Congress seemed directly hostile
to such a formula. The effect, on the other hand, on such
nations as BoUvia, Ecuador, and Peru was not negUgible.
The general result of the Brazilian attitude is to be looked for
in the future as a precedent, rather than in the present. The
revocation of BraziUan neutrahty with regard to the AlHed
Powers was no more than the natural and necessary sequence
of the above measure.
The BraziUan Government, whose action throughout has
been extremely logical, having taken definite reprisals for each
outrage committed by the German Government, was content
to leave matters as they stood, employing no hostile activities
towards Germany. But on October 25 the BraziUan steamer
Macau was torpedoed and its captain taken prisoner ; this
last could only be interpreted as an act of war, and the President
in a Message to Congress (October 25) advised the recognition
of this state of war initiated by Germany against Brazil. This
was decreed October 26. The notification of a state of war
gave another opportunity to the South American Republics
for the discussion of continental solidarity. Argentina, on this
occasion, after three months' delay, replied (February i, 1918)
in a note which tacitly admitted the justice of Brazil's position ;
the ChiUan Minister in Brazil sent (October 30) a note as cordial
as that one in which the ChiUan Government repUed to the
Uruguayan notification of her attitude, but on December 3
Chile declared her neutrality in the war between Brazil and
Germany.
The sinking of two more Brazilian ships was followed by
measures of reprisal against enemy commerce and the with-
drawal of colonization concessions.
Desirous of making her adhesion to the AlUed cause something
more than a Platonic manifestation, the Brazilian Government
offered to co-operate in patroUing the seas, an offer which was
willingly accepted. Aviation and Medical Missions have been
despatched to the AlUed countries.
The final document is the BraziUan reply to the Pope's Peace
Note — a statement which ranks second to none as a dignified
justification of a nation's position.
The whole series of documents gives the impression of a
nation anxious to maintain good relations with the Powers of
8 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
the world, but with a full regard for its national honour and
the peculiar duties of its position. Without abandoning its
traditional policy, it endeavours to find a modus operandi at
every encounter with the illegal methods of Germany ; once
the intentions of that Power become plain, Brazil boldly faces
the situation and proceeds dispassionately, under its own
legislation, and with due regard for international agreements,
to take the necessary reprisals for the protection of its interests
and for the removal of the menace to the world's peace.
Throughout this it sets an eminent example of correct procedure
in international relations.
ANDREW BOYLE.
July 24, 1 91 8.
NOTE.
Any Editorial Note or explanation is enclosed in brackets [ ]
CONTENTS
PAGE
Introduction 5
Decrees of Neutrality Now Revoked ii
nptifi cation of the unrestricted blockade i4
Rupture of Diplomatic Relations between the Governments
OF the United States of America and Germany 21
Torpedoing of the Steamer " Parana " 23
Rupture of Diplomatic and Commercial Relations between
Brazil and Germany and the Consequent Measures... ... 27
Protection of Brazilian Interests in Germany 32
Protection of German Interests in Brazil 33
Protection of Brazilian Interests in the Part of Belgium
Occupied by the Forces of the German Empire* 36
State of War Existing between the United States of America
and the Imperial German Government 37
Ministry for Foreign Affairs 39
Revocation of Brazil's Neutrality in Favour of the United
States of America 39
Torpedoing of another Brazilian Ship 41
Utilization of German Merchant Ships Anchored in Brazilian
Harbours 41
Telegraphic Messages Exchanged between the Presidents of
THE United States of America and Brazil 45
Germany's Protest against Brazil's Utilization of her
Merchant Ships , 46
Circular Note to the Foreign Governments 48
Reply of the Foreign Governments to the Foregoing Circular
Note 50
10 CONTENTS
PAGE
Revocation of Neutrality in the War of Germany against
THE Powers of Europe and Japan 74
Request for Information with Regard to the Patrols of the
Naval Forces Operating against Germany 75
Treatment of Brazilians in Germany * ... 76
Policy of American Fraternity 78
Rupture of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of
Costa Rica and the German Empire 80
Rupture of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of
Peru and the German Empire 81
Rupture of Diplomatic Relations between the Oriental
Republic of Uruguay and the German Empire 84
State of War between Brazil and Germany 87
Correspondence with Reference to the Declaration of a
State of War between Brazil and the German Empire ... 89
Two More Ships Torpedoed 97
Allied Conference at Paris on November 30, 1917 102
Measures of Precaution with Respect to German Subjects who
Exercise Consular Functions in Brazil on Behalf of
Other Nations 103
Neutrality of the Republic of Chile in the War between
Brazil and Germany 104
Rupture of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of
Ecuador and the German Empire 106
The Annulling of the Brazilian Exequatur of all Foreign
Consuls of German Nationality 107
The Practical Expression of Brazil's Co-operation in the War
of the Allied Powers against Germany 108
Reply of the Argentine Government to the Communication of
A State of War between Brazil and Germany 113
Admission of Students from the other American Republics to
the Military and Naval Colleges and Academies of Brazil 114
Permanent International Economic Committee at Paris 115
Peace Proposal of His Holiness Pope Benedict XV 117
Index of Names 123
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN
BOOK
DECREES OF NEUTRALITY NOW REVOKED
DECREE NO. 11,038 OF AUGUST 4, 1914.
Orders that complete neutrality shall be observed in the war
of the German Empire against the French Republic and
the Russian Empire.
The President of the Republic of the United States of Brazil :
The Federal Government having received official notification
from the Government of the German Empire that it is in a
state of war with the French Republic and the Russian Empire :
Resolves that the laws of neutrality appearing in the circular
issued with Decree No. 11,0371 of the 4th of the present month
and year, shall be faithfully and rigorously observed and ful-
filled by the Brazilian authorities, while the said state of war
lasts.
Rio de Janeiro, August 4, 1914. 93rd of Independence
and 26th of the RepubUc.
Hermes R. da Fonseca.
Frederico Affonso de Carvalho.
P This Decree, according to the President's Message, May 22, 191 7,
see post, p. 40, embodies the precepts of the two conventions signed by
Brazil at the Hague with reference to the rights and duties of Neutral
Powers a^ad Persons.]
11
12 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
DECREE NO. 11,066 OF AUGUST 12, 1914.
Orders that complete neutrality shall be observed in the war
between Great Britain and Germany.
The President of the RepubUc of the United States of Brazil :
The Federal Government having received official notification
from the British Government that Great Britain is in a state
of war with Germany :
Resolves that the laws of neutraUty appearing in the circular
issued with Decree No. 11,037 '^^ t^^ 4*^ of the present month
and year, shall be faithfully and rigorously observed and ful-
filled by the Brazilian authorities, while the said state of war
lasts. «
Rio de Janeiro, August 12, 1914. 93rd of Independence
and 26th of the RepubHc.
Hermes R. da Fonseca.
Lauro Miiller.
DECREE NO. 11,092 OF AUGUST 24, 1914.
Orders that complete neutrality shall be observed in the war
between the Empires of Japan and Germany.
The President of the RepubHc of the United States of Brazil :
The Federal Government having received official notification
from the Government of Japan that the same Empire is in
a state of war with that of Germany :
Resolves that the laws of neutrality appearing in the circular
issued with Decree No 11,037 o^ the 4th of the present month
and year, shall be faithfully and rigorously observed and ful-
filled by the Brazilian authorities, while the said state of war
lasts.
Rio de Janeiro, August 24, 1914. 93rd of Independence
and 26th of the Republic.
Hermes R. da Fonseca.
Lauro Miiller.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 13
DECREE NO. 11,984 OF MARCH 10, 1916.
Orders that complete neutrality shall be observed in the war
between Portugal and Germany.
The President of the Republic of the United States of Brazil ;
The Federal Government having received official notification
from the Portuguese Government, that Portugal is in a state
of war with Germany :
Resolves that the laws of neutrality appearing in the Decrees
Nos. 11,037, ii»093» of August 4 and 24, 11,141 of September 9,
and ii,209A of October 14 of the year 1914, and the other
measures taken by the Federal Government, shall be faithfully
and rigorously observed and fulfilled by the Brazilian authorities,
while the said state of war lasts.
Rio de Janeiro, March 10, 1916. 95th of Independence
and 28th of the Republic.
Wenceslau Braz P. Gomes.
Gastao da Cunha,
DECREE NO. 12,171 OF AUGUST 29, 1916.
Orders that complete neutrality shall be observed in the war
between Italy and Germany.
The President of the RepubUc of the United States of Brazil :
The Federal Government having received official notification
from the Italian Government that Italy is in a state of war
with Germany :
Resolves that the laws of neutrality appearing in the Decrees
Nos. 11,037, 11,093, of August 4 and 24, 11,141 of September,
and ii,209A of October 14 of the year 1914, and the other
measures taken by the Federal Government, shall be faithfully
and rigorously observed and fulfilled by the Brazilian authorities,
while the said state of war lasts.
Rio de Janeiro, August 29, 1916. 95th of Independence
and 28th of the RepubUc.
Wenceslau Braz P. Gomes.
L, M. de Souza Dantas.
14 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
NOTinCATION OF THE UNRESTRICTED BLOCKADE
NOTE FROM THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT TO
THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION IN BERLIN
(Translation.)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Berlin,
January 31, 191 7.
Monsieur le Ministre,
In the note of December 12, 1916, Germany and her
Allies declared themselves ready to enter into peace negotiations
with their enemies, indicating as the basis for these negotiations
the security of the existence, of the honour and of the free
development of their peoples.
Their plans were not aimed, as they had expressly declared,
at the destruction or extermination of their enemies, and were,
according to their own conviction, quite compatible with the
rights of other nations.
With regard to Belgium, the Chancellor had declared, some
weeks before, that Germany had never intended to annex
that country.
In the peace to be concluded with Belgium, Germany had
no other object than to prevent that country, with which she
desired to live in good neighbourly relations, from being ex-
ploited by her enemies to help them in hostile designs.
Such a precaution is the more to be regarded since the rulers
of the enemy peoples have undisguisedly expressed, in their
repeated speeches and, in particular, in the resolutions taken
by them in the Paris Economic Conference, their intention
to refuse Germany, even after the restoration of peace, any
right of equaUty, but, on the contrary, to continue the struggle
systematically.
The peace attempt of the four Allied Powers broke down
before the thirst for conquest of their enemies, who wished to
impose peace. Under the cloak of the principle of nationalities,
they concealed their war aim — ^the crushing and humiliation
of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 15
To the desire for conciliation they oppose their intention
of annihilation. They desire war to the utmost.
Thus a new state of affairs has arisen, which leads Germany
to adopt new resolutions. For two years and a half England
has made iUicit use of her naval power with the criminal object
of conquering Germany by hunger. Through its brutal dis-
regard for the Rights of Nations, the group of Powers led by
England not only suppress the legitimate trade of their enemies ;
but by exercising over them an unlimited pressure, it forces
even Neutral States to abandon all trafi&c which does not suit
it, or to restrict their commerce according to its arbitrary pre-
scriptions. The efforts employed to induce England and her
Allies to return to a respect for the Rights of Nations and the
freedom of the seas are known by the Brazilian Government.
In spite of this, the EngUsh Government persists in its war
of starvation, which, without reaching the military force of
the enemy, forces women and children, the sick and aged to
suffer, for their country, privations grievous in themselves, and
fatal to the vitality of the Nation.
Thus the English ambition for hegemony cold-bloodedly
unchains misfortunes on the world, with a disregard for the
most sacred laws of humanity, with a disregard for the protests
of neutrals severely affected, with a disregard even for the silent
desire for peace among the peoples of the Allies of Great Britain.
Every day in which the terrible struggle is prolonged brings
new devastations, new miseries, new losses of human life.
Every day which shortens the war will save for both sides the
Ufe of thousands of soldiers and will contribute to the benefit
of tortured humanity.
The Imperial Government would not be able to assume the
responsibiUty before its own conscience, before the German
people, and before history of not using all means to hasten
the end of the war. It had the desire and hope to reach this
by means of negotiations. The enemies having replied to
the attempt to enter into this path by a declaration of an intensi-
fication of the struggle, the Imperial Government, in order
to serve humanity in its highest sense, and in order not to incur
a heavy fault iijjtjie eyes of its own people, must make use of
all weapons, so as to continue the struggle to which it was
forced to defend its existence. It finds itself, therefore, forced
to abandon the restrictions which it maintained hitherto in
the use of weapons at sea.
In the certain faith that the people and Government of
Brazil will accept the reasons for this decision and the necessity
16 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
which dictates it, the Imperial Government hopes that Brazil
will judge the new state of affairs from the height of her
impartiality, and that she will contribute also, for her part,
to prevent greater misery and avoidable sacrifices of human
Hfe.
With reference to the details of the naval measures projected,
as appear in the attached Memorandum, the German Govern-
ment ventures to express the hope that the BraziUan
Government will see its way to warn BraziHan ships of the
danger they incur when entering the barred zones, described
in the attached annexe, as well as to instruct its subjects against
trusting passengers or goods to ships which trade with harbours
in those zones.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your
Excellency, Monsieur le Ministre, the assurance of my highest
consideration.
Zimmertnann,
Monsieur Gurgel do Amaral.
Minister ol Brazil.
Memorandum annexed to the Note sent by the German
Chancery on January 31 to the Brazilian Legation
IN Berlin.
(Translation.)
From February i, 1917, all sea traffic in the barred zones
around Great Britain, France, and Italy, and in the eastern
part of the Mediterranean as described below, will be combated
by all armed means, without any restriction.
(a) To the North — a zone around England and France
delimited by a line drawn at a distance of 20 sea leagues * along
the Dutch coast to the Terschelling lightship ; continuing from
the Terschelling lightship meridian to Udsire ; continuing
thence to the point at 62 degrees latitude North and o degrees
longitude, and thence to 62 degrees of latitude South,* and
5 degrees of longitude West ; following a direction thence to
a point situated at a distance of 3 sea leagues to the South of
the meridian of the Faroer [sic] Islands, in a direction to the
[* Thus in the Brazilian version throughout : other versions, including
the German text, have " sea miles."]
* On other occasions North, according to one ol the charts enclosed
with this Memorandum*
TBE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 17
point situated 62 degrees of latitude North and 10 degrees
longitude West ; ' thence to 57 degrees latitude North and
20 degrees longitude West ; then to 47 degrees of latitude
North and 20 degrees of longitude West ; thence to 43 degrees
of latitude North and 15 degrees of longitude West ; continuing
along the parallel 43 degrees of latitude North, to a point
situated at a distance of 20 sea leagues from Cape Finisterre ;
and thence along the northern coast of Spain at a distance of
20 sea leagues, to the French frontier.
(b) To the South — the Mediterranean. To neutral shipping
the sea area will remain open from west of a line from ^Point
de I'Espiquette to 38 degrees 20 minutes North and 6 degrees
East, as well as to the North and West of a strip 60 sea leagues
wide, along the coast of North Africa, beginning from 2 degrees
longitude W>st.
To allow communication between this zone and Greece, there
will be a strip, 20 sea leagues wide, either to the North or the
East of the following line :
38 degrees of latitude North and 5 degrees of longitude East
to 38 degrees of latitude North and 10 degrees of longitude
East ; thence drawn down to 37 degrees North and 11 degrees
30 minutes East ; continuing in a straight line to 34 degrees
North and 11 degrees 30 minutes East ; thence in a straight
line to 34 degrees North and 22 degrees and 30 minutes East.
From this point on, the said strip leads into Greek territorial
waters from the West of 22 degrees and 30 minutes longitude
East.
Neutral ships which navigate the barred zones will do so at
their own risk. In spite of the precautions taken to safeguard,
during a reasonable period, those neutral vessels which are on
February i en route for ports situated in the barred zone, it
would be advisable to warn them, urgently and by all possible
means, to change their route.
Neutral vessels l5^ng in harbours in the barred zones can with
all safety leave the zones provided they put out to sea before
February 5 and take the shortest route for the free zone.
Two copies are enclosed of the charts on which are marked
the barred zones.
' According to the chart mentioned above, the line is drawn from
this point (62 degrees lat. N. ; 10 degrees long. W.) to an intermediate
point (61 degrees lat. N. ; 15 degrees long. W.), thence to the point
mentioned in the Memorandum (57 degrees lat. N. ; 20 degrees Icng. W.).
18 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
REPLY OF THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT THROUGH
ITS LEGATION IN BERLIN
Legation of the United States of Brazil, Berlin,
February 9, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I immediately transmitted to my Government, by
telegraph, the note of January 31, in which Your Excellency
communicated to me the intention of the Imperial German
Government to blockade the coasts of Great Britain and her
islands, the coasts of France and Italy and the eastern Mediter-
ranean by means of submarines, which, from the ist of February
of the present year, would prevent all sea traffic in those areas,
the restrictions hitherto observed in the employment of means
of sea warfare being suspended, and all means allowed for the
destruction of vessels.
The note adds that the German Government, confident of
the just opinion which Brazil will form of these war measures^
which present circumstances force it to take, hopes that Bra-
zilian ships will be warned of the danger they in entering the
barred zones as also the passengers and merchandise on any
other merchant vessels, neutral or otherwise.
I have just received instructions to inform Your Excellency
that the Federal Government feels the greatest anxiety that
the position of exemption which the careful observance of the
laws of neutrality, established by it from the outbreak of
hostilities between friendly nations, has won for it, should not
suffer modification until the end of the present war. In this
way it has always acted, reserving to itself, as it should, the
right to demand reparation in concrete cases which affected
Brazilian interests, as it has always done.
The unexpected information, now received, of an extensive
blockade of the countries with which Brazil has active economic
relations and with which she is in uninterrupted communi-
cation through ships, among which are Brazilian ones, has
produced the most justified and profound impression through
the imminent menace of unjust sacrifice of lives, destruction
of property and the complete disturbance of commercial
transactions.
Under such circumstances, and following invariably its original
design, the Brazilian Government, having examined the contents
of the German note, declares on this occasion that it cannot
accept as effective the blockade now suddenly estabUshed by
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK Id
the Imperial German Government, for, both on account of
the means employed to realize this blockade and the dispro-
portionate extension of the barred zones, as well as on account
of the absence of any restrictions, including the warning before-
hand, even to neutral ships, and of the announcement of
destruction by armed means of any kind, such a blockade would
not be legal or effective, and would be opposed to the principles
of right and the conditions estabUshed by convention for
military operations of this nature.
Consequently the Brazilian Government, in spite of its sincere
and anxious desire to avoid disagreements with the friendly
nations now at war, feels that it is its duty to protest against
this blockade, as in fact it does protest, and therefore it leaves
to the Imperial German Government the responsibility for all
events which may happen to BraziUan citizens, merchandise,
or ships as a result of the abandonment of the principles recog-
nized by International Law, or by conventions to which Brazil
and Germany are parties.
I have the honour to renew to Your Excellency, Monsieur
le Secretaire d'Etat, the assurance of my highest consideration.
5. Gut gel do Amaral,
His Excellency, Monsieur A. Zimmerman,
Secretary ol State for Foreign Affairs
of the Imperial German Government.
NOTE FROM THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
TO THE LEGATION OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE
Ministry for Foreign Affairs. No. 4.
Rio de Janeiro.
February g, 191 7.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to hand Your Excellency, at the
same time as it is delivered in BerUn to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, the enclosed copy of the note by which the Brazilian
Government repUed to that of the Imperial German Government,
with reference to the blockade, established since February 21,
for the unrestricted attack by all armed means of destruction
on vessels which sail in the barred zones.
I avail myself of the opportunity to renew to Your Excellency
the assurance of my high consideration.
Lauro Miiller.
His Excellency, Dr. A. Pauli,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of
His Majesty the German Emperor and King ol Prussia.
20 fEE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
REPLY OF THE LEGATION OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE
TO THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
{Translation.)
Imperial German Legation. J.N. 302.
Petropolis,
February 10, 191 ?•
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your
Excellency's kind note dated the 9th instant, with which you
forwarded me a copy of the Brazilian Government's note in
reply to that one which the German Government sent it, with
reference to the blockade established, since the first day of
the present month, around the countries with which Germany
is at war.
Thanking you for sending me the said copy, I avail myself
of the opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance
of my high consideration.
A, Pauli.
His EMuUency, Th$ Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Dr. Lauro Muller,
Rio de Janeiro.
TELEGRAM FROM THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS TO THE LEGATION IN BERLIN
(Despatched February 13, 1917.)
Brazilian Legation, The Hague.
Please send to the Minister Amaral :
" We consider it essential, for the maintenance of our diplo-
matic relations with your ^ Government, that no BraziUan ship
should be attacked on any sea and on any pretext, even that
of carrying contraband of war, as the belHgerent Nations have
arbitrarily included everything in that category."
Foreign Minister.
\} I.e. the Government to which you are accredited. This telegram
repHes to a Note from the German Government. See post^ p. 28.]
TEE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 21
RUPTURE OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA AND GERMANY
NOTE FROM THE AMERICAN EMBASSY TO
THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
{Translation.)
Embassy of the United States of America. No. 339.
Rio de Janeiro.
February 5, 191 7.
Monsieur le Ministre,
In accordance with telegraphic instructions received
from my Government, yesterday evening, I have the honour
to inform the Brazihan Government, through Your Excellency,
that the Government of the United States of America, in view
of the recent declaration of the German Government of its
intention to renew indiscriminately submarine warfare, has no
other alternative than to follow the line of conduct set forth
in its note of April 18, 1916, to the German Government. My
Government, therefore, will recall the American Ambassador
in Berlin and his staff, and will immediately hand to the German
Ambassador in Washington passports for himself and his staff.
I have also received instructions to add that the President of
the United States of America is reluctant to believe that Germany
will actually put into practice her threats to neutral commerce ;
but, if this happen, the President of the United States will
ask Congress for authority to use the forces of the nation to
protect American citizens who peacefully and by right travel
on the high seas. The course followed is, in the President's
opinion, in perfect agreement with the principles enunciated
by him in his Message to the Senate on January 12, and, conse-
quently, he believes that it will make for the peace of the world,
if the other neutral Powers find it possible to assume the sanie
attitude as that taken by the Government of the United States
of America.
I avail myself of the opportunity to have the honour to
reiterate to Your Excellency, Monsieur le Ministre, the assurance
of my highest and most distinguished consideration.
Alexander Benson,
Charge d'Affaires.
His Excellency, Dr. Lauro S. MUlUr,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, etc., etc, etc., Rio de Janeirp.
22 TEE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
REPLY OF THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT TO
THE NOTE OF THE AMERICAN EMBASSY
Directorate-General op Political and Diplomatic Affairs.
Section of American Affairs. No. 3.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro,
February S, 191 7.
Monsieur le Charge d'affaires,
I have before me your note, No. 339, of the 5th instant,
in which you, according to instructions received, inform me
that the Government of the United States of America has
broken off diplomatic relations with the German Government,
recalling, on that account, its Ambassador in Berlin and handing
his passports to the Ambassador of that country in Washington.
This decision was brought about by the declaration of the
German Government that it was about to renew unrestricted
submarine warfare.
The same communication adds that if this threat 'be realized,
the President of the United States of America will obtain the
necessary legislative authorizations to use the forces of the
nation in order to protect American citizens who travel on the
high seas, hoping that the neutral Powers will assume a similar
attitude with the object of making for the peace of the world.
In thanking you for this communication, I must, in my
turn, confirm in the present letter the verbal statement which
I made to you that the Brazilian Government, in reply to the
note which it received from the German Government, announ-
cing the blockade of the coasts of the enemy countries, declared
that it did not recognize, for a number of reasons, such a blockade
as effective, and that it protested against it and its consequences.
With this basis of understanding, the Brazilian Government
will leave to the German Government the responsibility for
any events which may happen to Brazilian citizens, merchandise,
or ships as a result of the abandonment of the principles recog-
nized by International Law or by the Conventions to which
Brazil and Germany are parties.
I have the honour to renew to you the assurance of my very
distinguished consideration.
Lauro Miiller.
M. Alexander Benson,
Charg6 d'Affaires of the United States of America.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 23
TORPEDOING OF THE STEAMER "PARANA"
TELEGRAM FROM THE LEGATION IN PARIS TO THE
MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
{Received April 5, 1917.)
Foreign Affairs, Rio.
Received telegram Consul Havre saying : Parana torpedoed
last night 10 miles from Barfleur. Crew saved. Three men
killed.
Olyntho de Magalhaes.
NOTE VERBALE FROM THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT
TO THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION IN BERLIN.
{Received at 11 p.m. April 7, 1917.)
(Translation.) J.N. 7826.
With reference to the interview which M. Amaral had to-day
with Herr Zimmermann, the Imperial Department of Foreign
Affairs has the honour to bring to the notice of the Legation
of the United States of Brazil the following statement :
Up to the present, the Imperial Admiralty has not received
any news as to the loss of the Brazilian steaner Parana, so
that it cannot decide whether this was caused by a mine or a
torpedo. However that may be, the Imperial Government
does not hesitate to offer the Brazilian Government even now
the expression of its most lively regret if the event should prove
that this unfortunate disaster should have been caused by a
unit of the Imperial Navy. At the same time, it hopes there
has been no loss of life.
The Imperial Department would be glad if the Legation of
the United States of Brazil would see fit to act as interpreter
by telegraph, of the sentiments of the Imperial Government^
to the Brazilian Government.
Berlin, April 7, 19 17,
24 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
TELEGRAM FROM THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION IN
PARIS TO THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(Received April lo, 1917.)
Foreign Affairs, Rio.
Urgent. I transmit summary following text evidence
captain, officers, crew Parana taken Cherbourg before Secretary
of Legation Clark, consul, and vice-consul there, on April 8,
with regard to the torpedoing occurred 10 miles from Barfleur
3rd day at 11.30 p.m.
Captain Parana, Jose da Silva Peixe, examined in the first
place, replied as follows questions drawn up Secretary Legation
Clark, delegate Minister Brazil in Paris to open said inquiry.
First. Under what circumstances did the loss of the Parana
take place ?
Reply : The vessel was sailing under my command at slow
speed in the latitude mentioned above with all lights required
by regulations showing, as well as the illuminated word Brazil
showing in a place easily seen over the engine room amidships,
the national ensign and the company's flag hoisted, when at
the time mentioned above I was awakened (I had left the
watch to the chief officer an hour before) by a great noise caused
by explosion. The chief officer then informed me that the
ship had been torpedoed.
I noticed immediately that all the engines had ceased to
work, and that the ship in complete darkness was heeling over
to starboard.
I ordered the second engineer to examine the engine room :
he returned and stated that it was completely flooded.
Of the four ship's boats one was blown up, as well as the
lower deck, the davits, and the cabin of the second engineer ;
he was not there at the time.
The crew embarked in the three remaining ship's boats,
except three who did not answer the roll call, and the firemen
who were sleeping, and were saved later through the air funnels
of the boiler house, and who said that the boilers on the port
side had been torn out by the explosion.
Seeing that the ship still carried crew, I gave orders not
to cast off the boats in case they should be drowned, in spite
of a cry begging me to cast o^ and the ship being almost
submerged.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 25
I cast off the last boat myself, asking if there were still crew
on board — negative answer. I stepped off, certain that I was
the last to leave the boat ; heard cries later, and picked up
two firemen who had jumped into the sea.
Second : Was the loss of the vessel caused by the explosion
torpedo fired by submarine ?
I reply in the affirmative for the following reasons : When
my boat pulled away from the ship, while still within range
of vision, I made out a red light, close to the ship, which
shortly went out and another white one appeared.
As I had fired a rocket and another boat several flashlights,
I thought it must be a ship coming to my assistance, and was
getting ready to put back to the boat when I heard distinctly
the report of five gunshots directed at it ; I saw the flash caused
by each of these shots, which showed the premeditated desire
to do us all possible damage.
I concluded that the same vessel had fired the torpedo.
Alarmed at the aggressive attitude of the ship, I determined
not to ask assistance of it, and made off quickly.
Half an hour later the Parana sank.
Third : In the event of an affirmative answer to question
No. 2, was there any warning beforehand from the submarine ?
There was absolutely no warning beforehand, nor a statement
of any kind from the submarine.
Fourth : In the event of a negative answer to question No. 3,
was any submarine seen in the latitude where the explosion
took place ?
This question is answered in part by answer No. 2.
Several of the crew in boat No. 4, in charge of the chief
officer, saw distinctly the outline of a submarine on the star-
board side of the Parana, which was the side which received
the five gunshots.
This fact proves that the submarine, after torpedoing the
ship, crossed its bows and fired its guns on the starboard side.
Fifth : Did the submarine give any assistance in saving
the crew ?
Reply : The submarine did not give, nor attempted to give,
any assistance in saving us.
Sixth : Did any vessel appear on the port side to help the
crew ?
Reply : Exactly on the port side, no.
After twelve hours of suffering, the wind west by north-west
and a heavy sea, I saw on the same side two French torpedo
boats, which rescued us an4 boat No. 3 and took us to Cherbourg.
26 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
I feel it my duty to testify to the friendly reception of the
sailors of the French torpedo boats.
I regret to have to report the sad loss of three good shipmates,
Machado Soares, Clorindo Santos, and Jos6 Marinho Falcao.
(Signed) Jose da Silva Peixe, ,
Captain of the Parand.
The chief officer of the Parand, Luiz Ontiveros, was then
examined, who confirmed the preceding deposition, and gave
the following details as to the events :
In boat No. 4, of which he had charge, all his crew stated
that they could perfectly distinguish the outhne of a submarine :
he himself noticed a shape which looked like that of a submarine,
and he saw a red fight which certainly was the same as that
seen by Captain Peixe.
He added that his boat. No. 4, was rescued by an Engfish
cargo vessel, the Ratleyehead [sic].
Other undersigned officers of the ship were examined, and
confirmed in everything the preceding deposition.
The boatswain, Fernando Rodriguez Sacramento, seaman
Antonio Cruz Aran jo, fireman Francisco Oliveira, and several
other seamen, who agreed w4th the above, and declared they
had seen distinctly the outline of a submarine, as is stated in
the deposition of the chief officer, and all were of the opinion
that it would be wiser not to ask for assistance fearing they
might be attacked again.
Cherbourg, 8th of April, 1917. (Signed) Frederico Castello
Branco Clark, Secretary of Legation — ^instructed by the
Minister in Paris to open the inquiry. Jose da Silva Peixe,
Master of the Parand. Luiz Ontiveros, Chief Officer. Jose
Santos Costa, First Pilot. Demosthenes Dardean, Second Pilot.
Oscar Sperb, Chief Engineer. Luiz Gonzaga Gon^alves, Second
Engineer. Fernando Rodriquez Sacramento, Boatswain.
Antonio Costa Araujo, Seaman.
Here follow the signatures Armand Postel and A. HameUn,
Brazifian Consul and Vice-Consul respectively at Cherbourg.
Here follow the signatures in their own hand of the firemen,
Joao Manoel Faria and Francisco Jose Araujo, and the marks
on the following, who are unable to write, Antonio Ribeiro,
Manoel Cunha, and fireman Tertuliano Fagundes. After each
of these marks is the testimony signed by Secretary Clark,
Captain Peixe, Chief Engineer Oscar Sperb, thi^t it is the mark
of the person mentioned.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 27
In the margin in French, and signed by the Brazilian Consul
in Cherbourg, Armand Post el, is a similar testimony with
regard to the marks. Of the signatories, nine are Brazilian
by birth, and five naturalized ; no difference of opinion exists
between the crew as to the statements in the deposition.
Olyntho de Magalhaes.
RUPTURE OF DIPLOMATIC AND COMMERCIAL RELA-
TIONS BETWEEN BRAZIL AND GERMANY AND
THE CONSEQUENT MEASURES
NOTE FROM THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS TO THE IMPERIAL GERMAN LEGATION
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro.
April II, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre,
The Brazilian Government, drawing attention to the
menace to its legitimate and vital interests, protested formally,
at the proper time, against the blockade which, on January 31
of the present year, was notified to it by Your Excellency's
Government.
The Brazihan Legation in Berlin, when presenting this
protest, the safeguard of her threatened rights and the line
of her future conduct, wrote actually in the note to the Imperial
Government :
" The unexpected information now received, of an extensive
blockade of the countries, with which Brazil has active economic
relations, and with which she is in uninterrupted commmiication
through ships, among which are Brazihan ones, has produced
the most justified and profound impression through the immi-
nent menace of unjust sacrifice of lives, destruction of property,
and the complete disturbance of commercial transactions."
The note continued : *' Following invariably its original
design, the Brazilian Government, having examined the con-
tents of the German note, declares, on this occasion, that it
cannot accept as effective the blockade now suddenly estab-
lished by the Imperial German Government, for, both on
28 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
account of the means employed to realize this blockade and
the disproportionate extension of the barred zones, as well as
on account of the absence of any restrictions, including the
warning beforehand even to neutral ships, and of the announce-
ment of destruction by armed means of any kind, such a blockade
w^ould not be legal or effective, and would be opposed to the
principles of right and the conditions established by convention
for military operations of this nature.
** Consequently the Brazihan Government, in spite of its
sincere and anxious desire to avoid disagreements with the
friendly nations now at war, feels that it is its duty to protest
against this blockade, as in fact it does protest, and, therefore,
it leaves to the Imperial German Government the responsi-
bihty for all events which may happen to Brazilian citizens,
merchandise, or ships as a result of the abandonment of the
principles recognized by International Law, or by conventions
to which Brazil and Germany are parties."
Before any reply was received by the neutral Governments
which protested, Brazil received a communication expressing
the regret with which the Imperial Government was forced
to that extreme measure, and stating that, with the desire of
not injuring the various interests of neutrals, it would be ready
at once to discuss and arrange, in the widest interpretation of
equity, each and every accident which might unfortunately
take place.
As the subject could not admit equitable arrangements,
dealing as it did with measures contrary to the general laws of
sea warfare, the Brazilian Government instructed its Legation
in Berlin, by telegram, of which Your Excellency was informed
here, that it considered it essential for the maintenance of its
relations with Germany that no Brazilian ship should be attacked
on any sea under any pretext, even that of carrying contraband
of war, as the belligerent nations had arbitrarily included
everything in this category.
In assuming this attitude, the Federal Government confined
itself to demanding the fulfilment of the principles of law and
the stipulations which the German Government itself acknow-
ledged and confirmed, at the Declaration of Paris in 1856, in
its own legislation in force, in the Declaration of London of
1909, in which it was expressly stated that the rules included
therein corresponded in substance with the principles generally
recognized by International Law.
This point of view, which meets with the most soUd support
among the German authorities on International Law who hg,ve
TUB BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 29
been universally recognized, such as Heffter, Bluntschli, Holtzen-
dorff, and von Listz, and the Brazilian authorities, such as
Lafayette, Clovis Bevilaqua, Oliveira Freitas, and many others,
to quote authorities from our two countries alone, may be
summarized in the following terms :
I. Neutrals need not respect a blockade which is not effective,
that is, which is not maintained by a force sufficient to prevent
completely access to the enemy coast.
II. A ship which attempts to run an effective blockade is
liable to capture, but not destruction.
III. When even an exceptional case of necessity may authorize
the destruction of a neutral ship running the blockade, the
persons on board must be looked after.
This point of view being established, national opinion, with
the complete information before it, entirely approved, as ex-
pressed in its authorized organs, the prudent but firm and
deliberate action of the Brazihan Government, when it assumed
the attitude expressed in its comnmnications of February 9
and 13 last.
As it recently stated. Your Excellency knows the perfect
loyalty with which the Federal Government took the greatest
care that the position of exemption, which the careful observ-
ance of the laws of neutrahty, estabhshed by it from the
outbreak of hostiUties between friendly nations, had won for
it, should not suffer modification until the end of the present
war.
This procedure enabled it to expect with reason, and to
demand with assurance, the most absolute reciprocity in the
respect of its sovereign rights.
But it has just learned that, after this procedure, which
showed its anxiety to respect the position of exemption which
to this moment it has maintained in the great w^ar which devas-
tates the world, this reciprocity unfortunately does not meet
with any return in the acts for which the German Government
has the entire responsibility.
The merchant steamer Parana, sailing on the high seas in
the latitude of the Pointe de Barfleur under the Brazihan flag
and Brazilian by every title, was torpedoed, with a disregard
of all the elementary principles to be observed in such cases,
by a German submarine on the night of the 3/4 of the present
month, and after being torpedoed was subjected again to five
gunshots.
It was not warned to receive a visit of inspection as to its
quality as a neutral or to examine the papers relating to the
30 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
nature of its cargo. It was not warned that it would be sunk
even if it did not offer resistance.
There was not the least attempt at assistance for the persons
on board, and these, even after the torpedoing of the ship,
were subjected to gunfire.
To this act, hostile to the friendly relations of Brazil towards
Germany, is to be added not only the destruction of valuable
material interests, but principally the loss of Brazilian lives,
as well as injury to others, which were sacrificed without any
previous action and against the expressed orders of the Law
of Nations, and with an abandonment of the principles accepted
in Conventions and adopted by Germany herself. As regards
compensation for these deeds, the Brazihan Government will
reach a decision shortly.
The involution of the conditions to which the note of
February 9 last from the Brazilian to the German Grovemment
referred being verified, and in view of the principles underlying
its attitude which was confirmed in the most definite terms
by its complementary communication of the 13th of the same
month, the incident does not permit, I regret to say, the
possibility of explanation or arrangement.
The President of the Republic is sure that he has fulfilled,
in the most complete fashion, the undertakings freely assumed
by Brazil and his duties towards the German Government in
international affairs. He has consequently the greatest regret
to find that he is forced, in view of what is happening, to break
off diplomatic and commercial relations with Germany.
On this same date the Brazilian Minister in Berlin is author-
ized to make this statement to the German Government and
to ask for his passports so as to leave the country with all the
staff of the Legation in his charge. All the Brazilian Consuls
in the German Empire will also be given orders in this sense.
Under these circumstances, the presence of Your Excellency
in this country. Monsieur le Ministre, loses its object. I send
you enclosed the passport which will enable you to reach your
country in safety. For a similar reason the exequaturs of the
German Consuls in Brazil will be cancelled.
In fulfilling this regrettable duty, I take this occasion to
have the honour to offer Your Excellency once more the assur-
ance of my high consideration. ,
Lauro Muller,
His Excellency, M. A. Pauli,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of
His Majesty the German Emperor and King of Prussia.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 31
DECREE NO. 12,441 OF APRIL 11, 1917.
Cancels the exequaturs granted to all the consular officers of
the German Empire in Brazil.
The President of the Republic of the United States of Brazil :
Having determined to suspend diplomatic and consular
relations with the German Empire ;
Decrees :
That the exequaturs granted to all consular officers of the
German Empire in Brazil be cancelled.
Rio de Janeiro, April ii, 1917. 96th of Independence
and 29th of the Republic.
Wenceslau Braz p. Gomes.
Lauro Miiller.
CIRCULAR TELEGRAM TO THE PRESIDENTS AND
GOVERNORS OF THE STATES OF THE UNION
{April 12, 1917.)
I have the honour to bring to Your Excellency's notice that
His Excellency, the President of the Republic, has cancelled
by a decree of the nth instant the exequaturs granted to all
the consular officers of the German Empire in Brazil. Kind
regards.
Lauro Miiller.
DECLARATION OF THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
WITH REGARD TO THE PRECAUTIONARY SUPER-
VISION OF THE GERMAN SHIPS ANCHORED IN
BRAZILIAN HARBOURS
(Diario Official of April 13, 1917.)
The Government, having learned that the crews of German
ships have practised acts of destruction on these ships, which
are under the police jurisdiction and control of the BraziUan
authorities, particularly now that there are no authorities here
representing the German Empire, and having learned, more-
over, that, contrary to the regulations in force of the Port
32 TBE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
Authorities, the said crews have thrown into the sea portions
of the machinery and other things, and even show a disposition
to sink some, if not all, of these vessels, a design the realization
of which the BraziUan Government could not contemplate
without taking measures against it on account of the damage
it would do to navigation and the security of the ports, deter-
mined, as a measure of precaution and safety against this
alarming eventuality, without giving it the character of confis-
cation, to order the Ministry of the Navy to mount a guard
on the said ships by force for as long as the present situation
lasts.
EXONERATION OF BRAZILIAN CONSULAR AGENTS
OF GERMAN NATIONALITY
By Acts of April 30, 1917, six officials of German nationality,
who held the posts of honorary Consuls of Brazil, were exon-
erated without their periods of office having elapsed. They
were : Heinrich Holche, of Dusseldorf ; Hermann Meyer, of
Leipsig ; Eduard Dettmann, of Francfort s/M. ; Ataliba
Florence, of Dresden ; Siegfried Ballin, of Munich ; and Mathias
Hechler, of Altona.
PROTECTION OF BRAZILIAN INTERESTS IN
GERMANY
TELEGRAM FROM THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS TO THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION IN BERNE
{Despatched April 7, 1917.)
Brazilian Legation, Berne.
BraziHan Government only waits for the telegraphic
transmission of the result of inquiry to determine its attitude
with reference to the torpedoing of the Parana. Please make
confidential inquiries as to whether the Government of the
Swiss Confederation would do us the honour to assume the
care of the archives of our Legation in Berlin and the defence
of our interests in the probable event of a rupture of relations
between Brazil and Germany. Reply very urgent.
Foreign Minister,
I
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 33
TELEGRAM FROM THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION AT
BERNE TO THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Foreign Minister, Rio de Janeiro,
The Swiss Federal Consul, touched by the notable friendship
of Brazil's confidence so well esteemed here, accepts the
honourable charge.
Brazilian Minister.
TELEGRAM FROM THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS TO THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION AT BERNE
The President of the Republic charges me to desire Y'our
Excellency to offer the Swiss Federal Council the most cordial
thanks on behalf of Brazil and her President for their worthy
consent to the request that the Swiss Confederation should
represent, the interests of Brazil in Germany.
Foreign Minister,
PROTECTION OF GERMAN INTERESTS IN BRAZIL
NOTE VERBALE FROM THE LEGATION OF AUSTRIA-
HUNGARY TO THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
(Translation.)
Imperial and Royal Legation of Austria-Hungary in Brazil*
While waiting for the designation of the Power which will
be entrusted with German interests in Brazil, and in accordance
with Art. 21 of the Treaty of Commerce concluded between
Austria-Hungary and the German Empire on December 6, 1891,
M. Pauli has invited the Consuls of his country in Brazil, who
are on the point of leaving their posts to embark from Rio de
Janeiro, to hand over, provisionally, the protection of German
interests to the Austro-Hungarian Consul at their posts, and,
in the absence of an Austro-Hungarian Consul at these posts,
to the nearest Austro-Hungarian Consul.
It is requested that Their Excellencies, the Presidents and
Governors of States may be forwarded by telegraph the neces-
sary instructions in this respect.
Petropolis, April n, 1917.
3
34 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
Article 21 of the Said Treaty of Commerce.
Each of the contracting Parties will cause its Consuls abroad
to give subjects of the other Party, if the first Party is not
represented by a Consul in any place, protection and assistance,
as in the case of its own subjects, making no additional charges.
CIRCULAR TELEGRAM TO THE PRESIDENTS AND
GOVERNORS OF THE STATES OF THE UNION
(April 12, 1917.)
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that the Lega-
tion of Austria-Hungary has informed this Ministry that as
the country to be entrusted with German interests in Brazil
has not yet been chosen, the German ex-Consuls, in accordance
with Article 21 of the Treaty of Commerce concluded between
Austria-Hungary and Germany on December 6, 1891, were
instructed to hand over provisionally the protection of those
interests to the Consul of Austria-Hungary at their posts, or,
in the event of there being no Austro-Hungarian representation
there, to the nearest Austro-Hungarian Consul. Kind regards.
Lauro Miiller.
MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
NOTICE.
It is made known by the Directorate-General of Economic
and Consular Affairs that by virtue of a commtlnication made
by the Legation of Austria-Hungary, the protection of German
interests in this city is provisionally handed over to the Consul
of Austria-Hungary resident here, in accordance with the
Treaty of Commerce concluded between that Empire and the
German Empire on December 6, 1891.
Diiectorate-General of Economic and Consular Affairs of the
Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs. Rio de Janeiro,
April 12, 1917.
The Director-General,
L. L. Fernandes Pinheiro^
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 35
NOTE FROM THE LEGATION OF THE NETHERLANDS
TO THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
{Translation.)
Royal Legation of the Netherlands. No. 497/12.
Rio de Janeiro,
April 27, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to bring to Your Excellency's notice
that, in accordance with orders from the Queen's Government,
I assume, as from to-day, the protection of German interests
in Brazil.
The archives of the former Imperial German Legation will
remain temporarily in the charge of the Archivist Giinther
von Falkenreid in his house, 191 Rua Monte Caseros, Petropolis.
I venture to hope, Monsieur le Ministre, that in this addi-
tional charge with which I am trusted, I may count on the
same support which Your Excellency has been good enough to
give me in the discharge of my ordinary mission.
It is with pleasure that I seize this further opportunity to
beg Your Excellency, Monsieur le Ministre, to accept the
assurance of my very high consideration.
Von Zeppelin Ohermuller.
His Excellency, Genetal Dr, Laufo Mullef,
Minister of State for Foreign Afiairs.
NOTE FROM THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
TO THE LEGATION OF THE NETHERLANDS
Directorate-General op Political and Diplomatic Affairs.
Section of Affairs of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. No. 3.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro.
ApHl 27, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have just received the note No. ^97/12 of to-day's
date, in which Your Excellency informs me, according to in-
structions received from your Government, that you assume,
as from to-day, the protection of German interests in Brazil.
Your Excellency adds that the archives of the German
Legation will remain temporarily in the charge of the Arcliivist
Giinther von Falkenried, 191 Rua Monte Caseros, Petropolis.
36 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
Thanking you for this information, which I brought at once
to the notice of the President of the Republic, it remains for
me to inform Your Excellency that the Brazilian Government
will have the greatest care in facilitating your mission.
I have the honour to renew to Your Excellency the assurance
of my high consideration.
Lauro Milller.
His Excellency, M. Louis Jean Charles von Zeppelin Ohefmiilleft
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of
Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands.
PROTECTION OF BRAZILIAN INTERESTS IN THE PART
OF BELGIUM OCCUPIED BY THE FORCES OF
THE GERMAN EMPIRE
NOTE FROM THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION IN
MADRID TO THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT
Brazilian Legation, Madrid, No. 8/917.
April 29, 191 7.
Monsieur le Mtnistre d'Etat,
In fulfilment of a telegraphic instruction, which I
have just received from my Government, I have the honour to
bring to Your Excellency's notice, that His Catholic Majesty's
Government having consented to accept temporarily the pro-
tection of Brazilian interests in the territory of the Belgian
Kingdom, occupied by the German Government, the President
of the Republic of the United States of Brazil expresses the
desire that this charge with which the Government of His
Catholic Majesty has honoured the Brazilian Nation, should
become permanent.
I make use of this opportunity, Monsieur le Ministre, to
reiterate to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest
consideration.
Alcihiades Peganha.
His Excellency, M. Juan Alvarado,
Minister of State.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 37
NOTE FROM THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT TO THE
BRAZILIAN LEGATION IN MADRID
[Text in Spanish.]
Ministry of State, Madrid. N. 6.
May I, 1914 [Sic lor 1917].
My dear Sir,
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that
in view of the desire which, on behalf of your Government,
you have expressed to me in your kind note of 29th April
proximo, I have given telegraphic instructions to His Majesty's
Minister Plenipotentiary in Brussels that he should assume,
permanently, the protection of Brazilian interests in Belgian
occupied territory, which charge he had provisionally exercised
since the rupture of relations between Brazil and Germany.
I avail myself of the opportunity to reiterate to Your Excel-
lency the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.
Juan Alvarado,
M. Alcihiades Peganha,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary oi Brazil.
STATE OF WAR EXISTING BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA AND THE IMPERIAL
GERMAN GOVERNMENT
NOTE FROM THE AMERICAN EMBASSY TO THE
BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
(Translation,)
Embassy op the United States of America. No. 352
Rio/DE Janeiro,
Apfil 7, 191 7.
Monsieur le Ministre,
Acting according to instructions from my Govern-
ment, I have the honour to inform the Government of the
United States of Brazil that on April 6, the Congress of the
38 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
United States of America declared, and the President proclaimed,
that a state of war existed between the United States of
America and the Imperial German Government.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency
the assurance of my highest and most distinguished consideration.
Alexander Benson,
Charge d'Affaires.
His Excellency. Dr. Lauro S. Mullet,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro.
REPLY OF THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT TO THE
NOTIFICATION OF THE AMERICAN EMBASSY
Directorate-General of Political and Diplomatic Affairs,
Section of American Affairs. No. 9.
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro,
April 23, 1917.
Monsieur le Charge d'affaires,
I duly received the note No. 352 of the 7th instant
and brought to the knowledge of the President of the Republic
the information which you conveyed to me therein that, as
from the day before, by a declaration of the American Congress
and the sanction of the President, a state of war existed between
the United States of America and the Government of the German
Empire, following the rupture of diplomatic relations, as was
stated in the note, which, under the number 339, you sent me
on February 5 last.
It falls to me in reply to inform you, in confirmation of the
notification already made by the Brazilian Embassy in Wash-
ington, that the Brazilian Government, in defence of the same
principles as those proclaimed by the friendly Government of
the United States of America, and as a protest against the
hindrance of free navigation, detrimental to its vital interests,
determined, in accordance with its previous declarations and
on account of the torpedoing of the BraziUan steamship Parana,
to suspend diplomatic and commercial relations with Germany.
I have the honour to reiterate to you the assurance of my
very distinguished consideration.
Lauro Miiller,
Monsieur Alexander Benson,
Charge d'Affaires of the United States of America.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 39
DECREE NO. 12,458 OF APJ^IL 25, 1917.
Orders that the laws contained in Decree No. 11,037 of
August 4, 1 914, shall be observed, in the present state
of war between the United States of America and the
Government of the German Empire.
The President of the Republic of the United States of Brazil :
The Federal Government having received official notification
from the American Government that it is in a state of war
with the Government of the German Empire :
Resolves that the laws contained in the circular accompanying
Decree No. 11,037 ^^ August 4, 1914, shall be observed and
fulfilled by the Brazilian authorities, as long as they are not
ordered to the contrary, in the present state of war between
the United States of America and the Government of the
German Empire.
Rio de Janeiro, April 25, 1917. 96th of Independence
and 29th of the RepubUc.
Wenceslau Braz p. Gomes.
Lauro Muller.
MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
CHANGE IN THE MINISTER HOLDING THIS
PORTFOLIO
On May 3 last General Dr. Lauro Muller was removed, at his
own request, from the position of Minister for Foreign Affairs,
and by a decree of the 5th of the same month Dr. Nilo Peganha
was nominated for that post.
REVOCATION OF BRAZIL'S NEUTRALITY IN FAVOUR
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
TO THE NATIONAL CONGRESS
Gentlemen of the National Congress,
In the Message presented by me to the National
Congress on the 3rd of the present month, I stated that I had
40 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
issued Decree No. 12,458 of April 25 ultimo, with reference to
Brazil's neutrality in respect to the state of war between the
United States of America and the Government of the German
Empire.
I did this, although diplomatic and commercial relations
had been suspended with Germany, following the general rule
admitted up to that time in obedience to Decree No. 11,037,
of August 4, 1 914, which embodies the precepts of the two
conventions signed by Brazil at the Hague, with reference to
the rights and duties of Neutral Powers and Persons, but omit-
ting to employ in that document the terms used in the previous
decrees of that nature, only ordering the authorities to observe
and fulfil the laws of neutrality as long as they were not
ordered to the contrary.
The Government could go no further than this : but the
Brazilian Nation, through its legislative organ, can without
warlike intentions, but with determination, adopt the attitude
that one of the belHgerents forms an integral part of the American
Continent, and that to this beUigerent we are bound by a
traditional friendship and by a similarity of poHtical opinion
in the defence of the vital interests of America and the prin-
ciples accepted by International Law.
This has always been Brazil's line of conduct ; the Repubhc
maintains its fidelity to the uninterrupted tradition of its
foreign poHcy ; she could not to-day repudiate the ideas which
inspired the note of protest of the Empire of Brazil, on May 15,
1866, when a European ^ squadron bombarded a South American
city.«
Our point of view even then was that the nations of the
continent whose wealth and peoples are scattered along exten-
sive and unprotected coasts, require more than do other nations,
the upkeep of the precepts of modem civilization which con-
stitute their principal and most efficacious protection.
Emphasizing finally that the policy of continental sohdarity
is not the policy of this period of Government, nor of this regime,
but the traditional policy of the Brazihan Nation, I submit
the matter to the judgment of the National Congress, convinced
that if any resolution should chance to be adopted, it will con-
firm the happy understandhig which should exist between
Brazil and the United States.
Wenceslau Braz p. Gomes.
Rio de Janeiro, May 22, 191 7,
«
\} Spanish. « Valparaiso. See post, p. 79.]
TEE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 41
TORPEDOING OF ANOTHER BRAZILIAN SHIP
TELEGRAM FROM THE LEGATION IN PARIS TO
THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
{Received May 22, 1917.)
Foreign Affairs, Rio.
Ministry Navy here states Brazilian ship Tijuca was
torpedoed off Brest, where all the crew were taken safely. At
present no further details.
Olyntho de Magalhaes.
TELEGRAM FROM THE LEGATION IN PARIS TO
THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
{Received May 22, 1917.)
Foreign Affairs, Rio.
Supplementing my 63 inform Tijuca sunk on 20th at
10.40 p.m., five miles SW. of the Pierres Noires, at the entrance
to Brest. A vessel with 16 men arrived on 21st at 7 a.m. at
Ushant. First officer stated still three vessels at sea. Latest
information states crew composed 38 men arrived at Brest,
among them two sUghtly wounded. This information was
given by the Ministry of Navy here. No information received
from the Consul at Brest. I have telegraphed to him asking
for news. I shall send a Secretary there to hold the necessary
inquiry.
Olyntho de Magalhaes.
UTILIZATION OF GERMAN MERCHANT SHIPS
ANCHORED IN BRAZILIAN HARBOURS
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
TO THE NATIONAL CONGRESS
Gentlemen of the National Congress,
I submit to-day for your information, in authentic
copies, the details which I received from the Brazilian Legation
42 TEE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
in Paris with regard to the torpedoing of another ship of the
merchant fleet of Brazil by a submarine belonging to the German
naval forces.
The whole nation knows the attitude assumed by the Govern-
ment when Germany communicated to all neutral peoples
the establishment of a blockade, by submarines, of the western,
and a part of the southern, coast of Europe, thus restricting
the liberty of the seas, and extending indiscriminately to the
world outside the conflict the most violent acts of war.
The Brazilian Government then formulated its protest, and
when the steamer Parana was torpedoed, broke off diplomatic
and commercial relations with Germany.
Now, the torpedoing of another vessel under grave circum-
stances, and without warning beforehand, and the menace that
from day to day our shipping and commerce abroad will be
diminished, force the Government to put into practice such
measures of defence as the High Council of the National Congress
may devise.
The Government, in bringing the matter to your considera-
tion, does not wish to exonerate itself from the responsibility
which is its due, or from uttering frankly its opinion. It is its
opinion that the utilization of German merchant ships anchored
in Brazilian ports, without any notion of confiscation, which
is as repugnant to the spirit of our legislation as to the general
feeling of the country, is urgently necessary.
The utilization is based upon the principles of the Convention
signed at The Hague on October i8, 1907, and is without com-
pensation until we can discover whether it is a question of
goods of individual property which, even in a state of war,
should be respected, as will be done by Brazil, or whether they
belong to enterprises which have relations with, or depend
upon, the oihcial powers.
In any case, what seems undelayable to the Gk)vemment is
that the measures should be taken, both for the public interest
and the national dignity.
Wenceslau Braz p. Gomes.
Rio de Janeiro,
May 26, 19 1 7.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 43
DECREE NO. 3,266, OF JUNE 1, 1917:
Declares null Decree No. 12,458 of April 25th of the current
year, which establishes Brazil's neutrality in the war of
the United States with the German Empire, and gives
other measures.
1, the President of the Republic of the United States of
Brazil, make known that the National Congress decreed and
I sanction the following resolution :
Article i. — Decree No. 12,458 of April 25 of the current year
which establishes Brazil's neutrality in the war of the United
States with the German Empire, becomes null.
Sole Paragraph. For the execution of this article, the Presi-
dent of the Republic is authorized to take the necessary
measures, putting into practice the acts following from the
cessation of the said neutrality.
Article 2.— The Executive Power is authorized :
1st, to utilize the German merchant ships anchored in the
ports of Brazil so as to put into practice the acts that may
be necessary in the terms of the Message of May 26 of the
current year ;
2nd, to take measures for the defence of our navigation
abroad, being enabled to conclude, with the friendly Nations,
arrangements which will ensure freedom of commerce of im-
portation and exportation, and to revoke, for this end, the
decrees of neutrality when it thinks proper.
Article 3. — The Executive Power is authorized to open the
credits which may be necessary for the execution of the present
law.
Article 4. — All Dispositions to the contrary are revoked.
Rio de Janeiro. June i, 1917. 96th of Independence
and 29th of the Republic.
Wenceslau Braz P. Gomes.
Nilo Peganha.
Carlos Maximiliano Pereira dos Santos.
Joao Pandid Calogeras.
Jose Caetano de Faria.
Alexandrino Faria de Alencar.
Augusto Tavares de Lyra,
Jose Rufino Bezerra Cavalcanti.
44 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
DECREE NO. 12,501 OF JUNE 2, 1917:
Orders the utilization of all the German merchant ships anchored
in the ports of the RepubUc.
The President of the Republic of the United States of Brazil,
making use of the authorization granted to him by No. i of
Article 2 of the Legislative Decree No. 3266 of June i of the
current year.
Decrees :
Article i. — The Government of Brazil requisitions all the
German merchant ships anchored in the ports of the Republic
with the object of utiHzing them as the convenience and necessity
of navigation and commerce dictates.
Article 2. — Once occupied, in the terms of the Legislative
Decree above mentioned, these ships will be considered Brazilian,
so that they may hoist at once the national flag.
Article 3. — The Government will take measures that, within
the shortest possible time, these vessels will be put in condition
to sail and act as transports according to Article i.
Article 4. — All Dispositions to the contrary are revoked.
Rio de Janeiro. June 2, 1917. 96th of Independence
and 29th of the Republic.
Wenceslau Braz p. Gomes.
Nilo Peganha.
Carlos Maximiliano Pereira dos Santos.
Joao Pandid Calogeras.
Jose Caetano de Faria.
Alexandrino Faria de Alencar.
Augusto Tavares de Lyra.
Jose Rtifino Bezerra Cavalcanti.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 45
TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGES EXCHANGED BETWEEN
THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA AND BRAZIL
TELEGRAM FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF BRAZIL. SENT THROUGH
THE AMERICAN EMBASSY
{Note of June 5, 1917.)
I must transmit to Your Excellency, in the name of my
Government, the sentiments of deep appreciation with which the
recent act of the Brazilian Congress with reference to the present
struggle for peace and Uberty, was received in the United States.
I am sure that I speak in the name of my fellow-countrymen
when I express my warm admiration for this act, and the hope
that it is the forerunner of the attitude to be assumed by the
rest of the American States. I face the future with the confi-
dent hope in their co-operation in a united movement to put
down the German menace.
Woodrow Wilson,
TELEGRAM FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF BRAZIL TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SENT THROUGH
OUR EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON
{Sent on June 13, 1917.)
I thank Your Excellency for the memorable words with which
you congratulated Brazil, in the name of the People and Govern-
ment of the United States, for the frankness of her attitude
in this historic moment. Brazil, in taking her place once more
at the side of the United States, has remained faithful to her
political and diplomatic traditions of continental solidarity,
and as in the case of the great American Nation, we are not
actuated in this step by hatred or interest, but by a regard for
International Law and the defence of principles which, if they
46 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
are in dispute or danger in the Old World, must meet with
shelter and support among the free peoples of the two Americas.
Brazil has settled all her foreign questions, she has no ambitions
in the present instance and has not suffered in the past, and
prizes as a great boon the friendship of the United States.
More than any external manifestations, no occasion could so
unite the hearts of Brazil and the United States as the present
period of uncertainty and struggles.
Wenceslau Braz.
GERMANY'S PROTEST AGAINST BRAZIL'S UTIUZATION
OF HER MERCHANT SHIPS
NOTE FROM THE NETHERLANDS LEGATION TO
THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(Translation.)
Royal Netherlands Legation, Rio de Janeiro,
June 2, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre d'Etat,
By means of a note of to-day. Cabinet No. 26, Y'our
ExceUency was good enough to inform me that the President
of the Republic, in accordance with Article II, No. i, of the
legislative decision of the ist of this month. No. 3,266, decreed
the following :
Article i. — The Brazilian Government requisitions all the
German merchant ships anchored in the harbours of the
Republic in order to utilize them as may best suit the exigencies
and necessities of navigation and commerce.
Article 2. — Once occupied, in the terms of the said legislative
decision, these ships will be considered Brazilian, and may then
hoist the national flag.
Article 3. — ^The Government will take the necessary measures
so that, within the shortest possible time, these ships may be
in condition to sail and to act as transports in accordance with
the terms of Article i.
Article 4. — All dispositions to the contrary are revoked.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 47
In acknowledging receipt of the said note of Your Excel-
lency, I have the honour, in the name of the German Government,
and at its request transmitted to me by the Queen's Government,
to make a formal protest to the Government of the United
States of Brazil against the requisition and utilization of the
German ships anchored in the harbours of the Republic, and
to reserve to myself the right to ask for compensation for all
losses which such a measure may cause to German interests,
I beg Your Excellency will be good enough to acknowledge
receipt of this note.
I have the honour to reiterate to Your Excellency, Monsieur
le Ministre d'Etat, the assurance of my highest consideration.
Von Zeppelin ObermuUer.
"^t His Excellency, Dr. Nilo Pe^anha,
Minister of State lor Foreign Aflairs.
REPLY OF THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
TO THE NETHERLANDS LEGATION
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro,
June 5, 19 1 7.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the note
No. 710/22 of the 2nd instant, in which Your Excellency, in
the name and at the request of the Imperial German Govern-
ment, protests formally against the requisition and utilization
of the German merchant ships anchored in the harbours of
the Republic.
The measure adopted by the Government of the RepubUc,
Monsieur le Ministre, in utilizing the German ships as a sequence
to the torpedoing of ships of its own merchant fleet, insuring
thereby, directly and immediately, although by force, satis-
faction for damage caused to us, was an act of legitimate defence,
based upon German law itself, and one which all nations prac-
tise, without abandoning the state of peace, for the direct
purpose of obliging the offending nation to make the reparations
which are imperatively due from her.
Heffter, the great German authority on International Law,
not to quote Lafayette, Ruy Barbosa, and other national
jurists, states :
*' Reprisals are understood to-day to be all actual measures
which a Government makes use of against another State, against
the subjects of that State or against the goods of the said
48
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
subjects, with the object of forcing the Foreign Power to recog-
nize justice in the matters in dispute, or to obtain from her a
just satisfaction, or to make her do justice on her own part.
"Such a sequestration, a simple measure of precaution, has
the exclusive object of offering a pledge without conferring
any right over the lives of persons or over the goods seques-
trated. But these, if the satisfaction demanded continues to
be refused, can incontestably be used for the reparation of the
injured interests.
" Any refusal, or any delay, which one of the parties arbitrarily
opposes to the just demand of the other, gives it the incon-
testable right to have recourse to reprisals, it making Uttle
difference what form the refusal or delay takes."
Finally, Monsieur le Ministre, the Government of the RepubUc,
by guarding private property and giving assistance to the
crews of the ship, has not passed beyond the serene region of
the principles and laws which govern international society,
having only acted in defence of its flag and the interests of
the country.
I take the opportunity to reiterate to Your Excellency the
assurance of my high consideration.
Nilo Peganha.
His Excellency, Monsieur Louis Jean Charles von Zeppelin
Obermuller^
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of
Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands.
CIRCULAR NOTE TO THE FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS
CIRCULAR NOTE FROM THE BRAZILIAN GOVERN-
MENT, DISPATCHED THROUGH ITS DIPLOMATIC
REPRESENTATIVES
(Telegram of June 2, 1917.)
I beg Your Excdlency, on the receipt of this note to
communicate it to the Government.
The President of the RepubHc has charged me to commu-
nicate to Your Excellency'^ Government the fact that he has
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 49
just sanctioned the law which revokes Brazil's neutrality in
the war between the United States of America and the German
Government.
The Republic has thus recognized that one of the belli-
gerents is an integral part of the American continent, and that
we are bound to this belligerent by a traditional friendship and
by a similarity of political opinion in the defence of the vital
interests of America and the principles accepted by International
Law.
Brazil never had, and still has not, warlike ambitions, and if
she always abstained from any partiality in the European
conflict, she could not remain indifferent to it, when the United
States were drawn into the struggle without any interest therein
but in the name alone of respect for International Law, and
when Germany extended indiscriminately to ourselves and
other neutrals the most violent acts of war.
If hitherto the relative lack of reciprocity on the part of
the American Repubhcs has withdrawn from the Monroe Doc-
trine its true character, permitting a scarcely well founded
interpretation of the prerogatives of their sovereignty, the
present events, by placing Brazil, even now, at the side of the
United States, in the critical moment of the world's history,
continue to give our foreign poHcy a practical form of
continental solidarity — a policy indeed which was that of
the old regime on every occasion on which any of the other
friendly sister nations of the American continent were in
jeopardy.
The Republic has followed rigorously our political and diplo-
matic traditions, and has been faithful to the liberal principles
in which the nation was educated.
Thus fulfilling our duty, and Brazil taking up the place
indicated by its antecedents and by its conscience as a free
people, we shall maintain, whatever may be the events which
await us to-morrow, the Constitution by which we are ruled
and which has been surpassed by none hitherto, in its guarantees
to the rights, life, and property of foreigners.
In informing Your Excellency of the above resolution, I
have the greatest pleasure in asking you, by order of the
President of the Republic, to bear to your Government the
sentiments of the unalterable friendship of the people and
Government of Brazil.
I avail myself of the opportunity to renew to Your Excellency
the assurance of my . . .
Nilo Peganha.
4
50 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
REPLY OF THE FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO THE
FOREGOING CIRCULAR NOTE
THE REPUBLIC OF BOLIVIA'
[Text in Spanish.]
Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Public Worship, La Paz,
Diplomatic Section. No. 296.
June 5, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have had the honour to receive Your Excellency's
very kind note of yesterday, in which, by instruction of Your
Excellency's Government, you were good enough to inform
me that your Government had just sanctioned the law which
revokes Brazil's neutrality in the war between the United
States of America and the German Empire.
In informing this Chancery of that important fact, Your
Excellency points out to me that Brazil has recognized in this
that one of the belligerents forms an integral part of the American
continent ; that she is united to it by traditional friendship
and by a similarity of political opinion in the defence of the
vital interests of America and the principles sacred to Inter-
national Law ; that if Brazil abstained from any partiality in
the European conflict, she could not remain indifferent now
that the United States are drawn into the struggle without
any interest therein, and only in the name of a respect for
International Law, while Germany exercises indiscriminately
towards the neutral countries the most violent acts of war.
Your Excellency states further, that if hitherto the lack of
reciprocity of the American Republics deprived the Monroe
Doctrine of its true character, allowing a less well-fotmded
interpretation of the prerogatives of their sovereignty, the
present events, by placing Brazil at the side of the United States
in a critical moment of the world's history, give, in accordance
with the political and diplomatic traditions of Your Excellency's
country, a practical form of continental solidarity to her
foreign policy.
Your Excellency also adds that Brazil will maintain, whatever
may be the events to come, the Constitution by which she is
ruled, which is surpassed by none in its guarantees to the rights,
[* Bolivia broke o3i relations with Germany April 13, 191 7.]
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 61
life, and property of foreigners, and concludes by communicating
to me the wish of His Excellency the President of the Republic
of Brazil, that I should bear to my Government the sentiments
of the unalterable friendship of the Brazilian people and
Government.
In accordance with the wishes expressed by Your Excellency,
I have communicated to the Chief of the State the text of the
important note to which I have just referred.
His Excellency the President of the Republic has followed
with the greatest interest each of the points to which, with
a high notion of Americanism and equity. Your Excellency's
note refers, and charges me, in his turn, to beg Your Excellency
to transmit to your Government the sentiments of warm sym-
pathy with which the Republic of Bolivia regards the attitude
of Brazil, which gives a happy interpretation to the Monroe
Doctrine, by aligning itself with the United States of North
America, in defence of the rights of neutral States injured in
every respect by the means of warfare employed by Germany
with a complete disregard for the principles hitherto recognized
by the Right of Nations.
I avail myself of the opportimity to offer to Your Excellency,
once more, the assurance of my very high and distinguished
consideration.
. Pldcido Sdnchez,
Monsieur Rinaldo de Lima e Si vUy
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of the United States of Brazil.
THE KINGDOM OF ITALY
(Translation.)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs Rome. 23/208.
June 19, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre^
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the note
dated the 5th instant, in which Your Excellency was good enough
to inform the Royal Government that the President of the
Republic of the United States of Brazil had sanctioned the
law revoking neutrality in the war between the United States
of North America and the German Empire.
The Royal Government and the Italian nation learned with
the greatest satisfaction that Brazil had taken the place which,
through her glorious traditions, was reserved for her in the
52 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
world struggle for the triumph of the justice and liberty of
peoples.
Ihe sentiments of friendship which Your Excellency was
kind enough to express to the Royal Government, in the name
of the President of the Republic, on behalf of the Brazilian
people and Government, are entirely and sincerely shared by
the Royal Government and the Itahan people.
I am happy to be, by the kind mediation of Your Excellency,
the bearer to the Government of your country, of the good
wishes of the Italian Nation and the Royal Government for
the glory and prosperity of Brazil.
I avail myself of the opportunity to offer you, Monsieur
le Ministre, the assurance of my high consideration.
S. Sonnino.
His Excellency^ Monsieur Pedro de Toledo^
Minister ol the United States oi Brazil.
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC ^
[Text in Spanish.']
Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Public Worship,
Buenos Aires,
June n, 1917-
Monsieur le Charge d'affaires.
In acknowledging receipt of your note of the 4th instant,
in which you inform me that the Brazilian Government has
sanctioned the law revoking its neutrality in the war between
the United States and Germany, it is a pleasure to me to ratify
the sentiments expressed by the Argentine Government in its
communication of April 12 ultimo.*
I greet you with my distinguished consideration.
Honorio Pueyrredon.
Monsieur Eduardo RamoSf
Charg6 d'Affaires oi Brazil.
[I See also post^ p. 113.]
[a The note referred to here was written on receipt of the information
that Brazil had broken oft relations with Germany : it contained the
following :
" The Government of the Republic of Argentina which, in the defence
of the principles of International Law, has just stated its opinion on this
subject, duly appreciates the attitude assumed by the United States
of Brazil, which is in exact conformity with those principles, and expresses
the most open sentiments of fraternity."
This note in its turn had reference to the Argentine reply to the United
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 53
THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF RUSSIA
(Translation.)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Petrograd,
May 2^1 June ii, igiy.
Monsieur le Charge d'affaires,
I have the honour to receive the note of June 8/May 26
of the current year, in which you informed me of the law which
has been sanctioned by the President of the Repubhc, revoking
Brazil's neutrality in the war between the United States of
America and the German Empire.
I thank you for this important communication, and in taking
note of it, I hasten to tell you how greatly the Russian Pro-
visional Government appreciates the noble motives of the
Republic's Government so eloquently expressed in your above-
mentioned note and which served as the basis of that decision.
The Republic of Brazil, faithful to its liberal principles,
unmoved by warlike ambitions, bound to the United States
by a traditional friendship and the same political orientation,
and with a regard for International Law, did not delay, indeed,
in taking the necessary steps, as a result of the violent acts of
war extended by Germany inexorably not only to her enemies,
but also to neutrals.
In congratulating the Government of your country for its
energetic action destined to help the cause of right and equity,
I hasten to assure you. Monsieur le Charg^ d'Aif aires, that the
Provisional Government and the Russian Democracy as a whole
are very moved by the sentiments of friendship of the Brazilian
people and Government, and reciprocate them with the same
sincerity and fraternity.
Accept, Monsieur le Charge d'Affaires, the assurance of my
most distinguished consideration.
Michel Terestchenko.
Monsieur G. de Vianna Kelsch,
Charge d'Afiaires of Brazil.
States note iniorming it of the declaration of a state of war between
the United States and Germany, in which it said :
'* The Government of the Argentine Repubhc, in view of the causes
which have led the United States oi America to declare war on the German
Empire, recognizes the justice of this determination in so far as it is
based on the violation of the principles of neutrality consecrated by
rules of International Law, which were regarded as definite advances q|
ciyilixfitipri."]
54 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE"
[Text in Spanish.]
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Santiago,
June 12, 1917.
Monsieur le Charge d'affaires,
I have had the honour to receive your kind letter of
the 4th instant, in which you, in the name of His Excellency
the President of Brazil, were good enough to inform Chile that
the Brazilian Republic resolved to revoke, in the state of war
existing between the United States and Germany, the decree
which fixed its line of neutrality mth respect to the European war.
In reply, it is a pleasure to me to say that Chile, united to
Brazil for a very long time by the closest bonds of fraternal
cordiality, has followed, in these difficult times, with the most
lively interest, the events which have taken place in her foreign
policy as a result of the restrictions to impose which on the
maritime sovereignty of the Neutral Powers, attempts have been
made in the present European war.
My Government understands that the measures, under these
circumstances, adopted by Brazil, are not inspired by warlike
ambitions, but by the high spirit of defence and protection of
her rights, and in fulfilment of the declarations which, on this
very subject, she has already had occasion to formulate, together
with the other Latin American nations.
The similarity of juridical opinion and the convenience of a
policy of harmony in the American continent, are factors which
force the Government and pubhc opinion in Chile to regret
now more than ever the cause which has originated these
events.
You alj^o say that the policy now followed by Brazil is a
traditional one, which had its origin in the poUcy of the old
regime, and was exercised at all times when the interests of
the friendly sister nations of this continent have been seen
to be affected.
This recollection is particularly appreciated by, and pleasing
to, my country.2
Your communication ends with an honourable statement of
principles, in which it is made clear that, whatever may happen,
the Government of your Republic will not hold back from the
[* See also post, p. 104.]
* The reference here is to the BraziHan protest against the Spanish
]3Qflibardment ol Valparaiso, 186^. See pp. 40 and 79/)
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 55
duties of its conscience as a free people, and will maintain the
guarantees due to all public and private rights.
These high conceptions will be received with unanimous
applause by all peoples for whom respect for International Law
constitutes one of the most valued advances of civilization.
I reiterate to you the assurance of my distinguished
consideration.
A. Huidobro.
Monsieur Luis G. do Amafal,
Charg6 d'Afiaires oi Brazil.
KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN
(Translation.)
Foreign Office. No. ii 1775/17.
London, June 12, igi?.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the Note
of the 4th instant, in which Your Excellency was kind enough
to inform me that the Republic of Brazil determined to abandon
the attitude of neutrality which hitherto it maintained in the war
between the United States of America and the German Empire.
I should be glad if Your Excellency would be good enough
to make known to your Government the most lively satisfaction
with which I learned of its decision to fight for justice and
liberty, assuring it at the same time of the sincere sympathy
and friendship of His Majesty's Government.
I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration.
Monsieur le Ministre, Your Excellency's most obedient, humble
Servant,
Robert Cecil.
His Excellency t Monsieur Antonio da Fonioura Xaxier,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of Brazil.
ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY ^
[Text in Spanish.]
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Montevideo,
June 13, 1917*
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the note
in which Your Excellency informs the Government of Uruguay,
[» See post, p. 84, for Rupture of Relations with Germany.]
56 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
in accordance with instructions from His Excellency President
Braz, that the Republic of Brazil has just revoked its neutrahty
in the war between the United States of America and the
German Empire, by reason of the fact that the former belU-
gerent is a part of the American Continent, and that the
Brazilian nation is united to it by traditional friendship and a
similarity of political opinion in the defence of the vital interests
of the continent and the principles of International Law.
The Uruguayan Government, after examining Your Excel-
lency's note, takes pleasure in stating that it sympathizes with
the ideals to which the said communication refers, and reiterates
once more its urgent desire that the policy of America, through
a congress of all its peoples, should give expression once and
for all in juridical formulae or practical actions to the fertile
aspiration of continental solidarity.
United as are the nations of the New World by the eternal
bonds of democracy, and by the same notions of justice and
liberty, the logic of principles and interests, the better to
ensure the free development of the latter and the efficacy of
the former, should of necessity make, in view of the events
which are affecting the world to-day, for a close unity of action
in such a way that every act perpetrated against one of the
countries of America with a violation of the principles univer-
sally recognized by International Law, should constitute an
aggression to all, and call for a united resistance from them.
Uruguay, Monsieur le Ministre, hopes that the American
nations will adopt a collective resolution in this sense, either
in a Continental Congress, or following any other procedure,
and trusts that this hope which has determined her own antici-
patory attitude will shortly be auspiciously realized, which
will enable America to make an efficacious use of her moral
and material forces, and give her all the influence in the destinies
of the world to which she has a right.
I avail myself of the opportunity to renew to Your Excellency
the assurance of my high consideration.
Baltazar Brum.
His Excellency t Monsieur Cyro de Azevedo,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiaty
of Brazil.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 57
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
{Translation.)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Section of American Affairs.
Paris, June 13, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministrk,
Your Excellency had the goodness to inform the
Government of the RepubHc, in your note of June 5, that the
decree of neutraUty of Brazil in the war between the United
States and the German Empire had been revoked.
In pointing out the extent of this political act and empha-
sizing in particular that the Republic of Brazil gave proof in
this way of the coherence of its historical tradition. Your
Excellency drew attention to the sentiments of loyal respect
existing between France and Brazil. A similarity of institutions
and the same democratic ideal, giving expression to natural
affinities, reunite to-daj^^ these two Powers against the pre-
tensions of a hegemony of Germanism.
I have the honour to express to Y'our Excellency for the
communication which you sent me, together with the acknow-
ledgments of the Government of the Republic, the gratitude
of France, whose privations and sacrifices, stoically borne in
order to bring about the victory of the cause of free peoples
have multiplied the expressions of sympathy of the Nations
guided by the same principles.
Pledged to the end in the defence of her independence,
resolved to have it respected at any cost, and in complete
agreement with the great RepubHc of the United States, which
came into the war with the same object, having in view as
well the most noble and disinterested desideratum, Brazil is
entitled, through the dignity of her attitude and the grandeur
of her intentions, to the highest praise.
It is particularly pleasing to me, under such solemn circum-
stances, to make this declaration to Your Excellency in the
name of my country.
Accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of the high con-
sideration with which I have the honour to be. Monsieur le
Ministre, your most obedient humble Servant,
Alexandre RiM.
Monsieur Olyniho de Magalhdes,
Minister ol BraziJ in P^ri§,
58 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
THE REPUBLIC OF PERU »
[Text in Spanish.']
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Lima,
June 14, 1917. No. 3.
Monsieur le Mintstre,
I have had the honour to receive Your Excellency's
kind communication dated the 4th instant, intended to inform
my (jovernment, on the instructions of the President of the
United States of Brazil, that the law revoking the neutrality
of the Brazilian Republic, in the war between the United
States of America and the German Empire, has just been
published.
With this object Your Excellency had been good enough
to set out before me in extenso all the weighty leasons which
have forced Your Excellency's Government to the adoption
of this attitude, and you conclude by asking me, at the request
of the President of the Republic, to express to my Government
the sentiments of unalterable friendsliip of the Brazilian people
and Government.
In reply I must inform Your Excellency that I have taken
due note of the important resolution which Your Excellency
has been good enough to communicate to me, as well as of the
interesting declarations with which you support it, which
harmonize with the opinions and juridical conceptions already
expressed by all the peoples of America with reference to
complications of all kinds and the enormous misfortunes of
the present time.
Having accomplished with pleasure the request of the
President of Brazil, 1 beg Your Excellency will be good enough
to transmit to him, with our lively gratitude for the sentiments
with which he is animated, the assurance of the perfect reci-
procity in unalterable friendship of the Peruvian People and
Government.
I avail myself of this new opportunity to reiterate to you.
Monsieur le Ministre, the assurance of my high and distinguished
consideration.
E. da la Riva Agiiero.
Dr. Augusto C. de Ale^icar,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of the United States ol Brazil.
f* See post, pr 81, for Rupture ol Relations with Germany.]
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 59
THE HOLY SEE
(Translation.)
Secretariat of State op the Holy See. No. 24,726,
The Vatican, June 15, 191 7.
The undersigned Cardinal Secretary of State has the honour
to acknowledge receipt of the kind note dated June 5, in which
Your Excellency informs the Holy See that the President of
the Brazilian Republic has sanctioned the law revoking Brazil's
neutrality in the war between the United States and the
German Empire.
The undersigned thanks Your Excellency for this communi-
cation, and has the pleasure at the same time of declaring to
you the satisfaction with which the August Pontiff received
the friendly expressions w^hich the President of the Republic,
in the name of the Brazilian Government and people, sent him
through you.
The undersigned avails himself with great pleasure of this
occasion to reiterate the assurance of his highest and most
distinguished consideration.
P. Card. Gasparri.
His Excellency t Monsieur Caflos Magalhdes de Azefedo,
Minister of Brazil at the Holy See.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(Translation.)
The Department of State, Washington,
June 16, 1917.
Your Excellency,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the note
of June 4, in which Your Excellency, in fulfihnent of the instruc-
tions of the President of the Republic of Brazil, communicates
to me the promulgation of the law revoking Brazil's neutrality
in the war between the United States and Germany, and asks
me to transmit to my Government the sentiments of unalterable
friendship of the Brazilian people and Government.
I was deeply grateful to receive the notification of the friendly
co-operation of Brazil in the efforts of the United States to
safeguard definitely the principles of the sovereignty of Nations,
and to defend the advances made in the alleviation of the
sufferings and disasters of war, so patiently attained and with such
exhaustive labour, in humanity's struggle against barbarism.
60 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
The United States highly appreciates the inestimable contri-
bution brought by Your Excellency's Government to the
cause of American solidarity, more important now than ever,
as a protection for civiUzation and a means of making respected
the laws of humanity.
I should be much obliged to Your Excellency if you would
have the goodness to transmit to the President, Government,
and people of Brazil, the thanks of this Government and people
for this firm attitude, so much in keeping with the liberal
traditions of Your Excellency's great country, an attitude of
the greater importance in its final results in what must funda-
mentally interest the well-being of all the American Republics.
In begging Your Excellency also to assure the Brazilian
people and Government of the most cordial reciprocity, on
the part of the people and Government of the United States,
in their protests of friendship, always valued, but now become
closer and more intimate by reason of the action of Brazil, I
avail myself of the oppoitunitj'' to renew to Your Excellency
the assurance of my high consideration.
Frank L. Polk,
Acting Secretary of State.
His Excellency, Monsieur Domicio da Camay
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of Brazil.
THE JAPANESE EMPIRE
(Translation.)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Tokio. No 6.
June i8, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the note
of the 6th instant, which Your Excellency was good enough to
send me with respect to the revocation of the declaration of
Brazil's neutrality in the war between the United States of
America and the German Empire.
In informing you that I have taken note of this communication,
I avail myself of this occasion to reiterate to you. Monsieur
le Ministre, the assurance of my high consideration.
Viscount Itchiro Motono,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
His Excellency, Monsieur E. L. Chermoni,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Qi Brazil.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 61
THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Directorate of Political
AND Diplomatic Affairs, (ist Division)
Lisbon, June 19, 1917-
Monsieur l'Ambassadeur,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the Note
which Your Excellency was good enough to send me on the
7th instant, informing me, by order of the President of the
BraziUan Republic, of the sanction of the law revoking Brazil's
neutrality in the war between the United States of America
and Germany.
I noted with the greatest interest the words accompanying
Your Excellency's communication which emphasize its
significance.
An integral part of the American continent, a free people
educated in the broad traditions of her diplomacy, with a
respect for International Law^ Brazil did not hesitate to manifest
her solidarity with the great North American Republic, which
in the name of the right, justice, and independence of peoples
placed itself at the side of those Powers in Europe who are
fighting for those ideals.
In no country could the resolution of the BraziUan Republic
cause greater satisfaction than in Portugal. Related to the
noble Brazilian Nation by so many titles, the Portuguese people
acclaim another proof of the identity of feeling in the two
countries in this solemn moment of the world's history.
The Government of the Republic, in thanking Your Excel-
lency for the expression of the unalterable friendship of the
people and Government of Brazil, charges me to assure Your
Excellency that it is sincerely reciprocated by the Government
of the Republic and by the Portuguese people.
I avail myself of the opportunity to reiterate to Your
Excellency the assurance of my high consideration.
Augtisto Soares,
His Excellency, Dr. Gastdo da Cunha,
Ambassador ol Brazil.
62 TEE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA^
(Telegram from San Jose, June 20, 1917 )
[Text in Spanish.]
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Brazil,
I have had the honour to receive the very important
telegraphic message from Your Excellency, in which you were
good enough to transmit to me the note which Your Excellency's
Government sent to friendly nations, informing them that the
President of the Republic has sanctioned the law revoking
Brazil's neutrality in the war of the United States of America
with the German Empire.
The President of the Republic, to whom I gave an account
of Your Excellency's note, has instructed me, in agreement
with his Cabinet, to inform the Brazilian Government that he
has followed with the most lively satisfaction the reasons taken
into account for the issuing the said Decree, reasons which
involve the defence of small nations, the solidarity of the
American continent, the just and true interpretation of the
Monroe Doctrine, and the restoration of International Law,
all this as the safeguard of justice and democracy menaced with
death in this tremendous struggle in which civilization is at
stake, and which is to decide between that which pays homage
to force, and bases its ideal on it, and that which looks upon
the estabhshment of peace, justice, and hberty as the greatest
aim. The Government of Brazil, in thus resolutely contribu-
ting to this work of human redemption, deserves from my
Government the most sincere and cordial gratitude, and takes
its part in the high purposes in which the conduct of the great
and powerful RepubUc finds its inspiration.
I must also express to Your Excellency that my Government
on behalf of the Costa Rican people, appreciate and value to
their complete extent the protests of unalterable friendship
which the noble Brazilian Nation and her distinguished Govern-
ment offer, and in uttering my fervent prayers that the admirable
political traditions which so exalt Your Excellency's country,
may always be upheld, it is very pleasing to me to reiterate
to you the assurance of my high and distinguished consideration.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica,
Carlos Lara.
[* See post, p. So, for Rupture of Relations with Germany.]
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 63
THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA'
(Teiegrant from Guatemala, June 22, 1917.)
\Text in Spanish. 1
The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Rio),
I have had the honour to receive the kind telegraphic
Message from Your Excellency dated June ig, in which you
were good enough to transcribe for me the note which your
Government sent to friendly nations informing them that the
President of the RepubHc has sanctioned the decree revoking
Brazil's neutrality in the war between the United States of
America and Germany. In thanking Your Excellency for
your kind communication, of which I have taken due note,
it is a pleasure to me to reiterate to you the assurance of my
highest and most distinguished consideration.
Luis Toledo Serrate,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ^
(Telegram from San Domingos, June 22, 1917.)
[Text in Spanish.]
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
The Government thanks courteous communication,
and congratulates Brazil solidarity of America.
Secretary Foreign Affairs.
[* Guatemala supported the United States attitude, and broke ofi
relations April 28, 19 17.]
[2 The Dominican Republic has been occupied by American Naval
Forces.]
64 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
THE REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS
(Telegram from Tegucigalpa, June 23, 1917.)
[Text in Spanish.]
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bx^azil (Rio),
I have received with satisfaction the important message
of Your Excellency, explaining the high motives for which tlie
President approved of the revocation of Brazil's neutrality in
the war between the United States and Germany. In my turn
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency's Government
that my Government, impelled by the cordial friendship existing
between Honduras and the United States through a comnmnity
of interests and the sentiment of American solidarity, resolved
on May 17 last to join the cause defended by the United States,
and broke off diplomatic relations with the German Government.
While asking Your Excellency to be good enough to express
to the President of your Repubhc the lively satisfaction which
the Government and people of Honduras feel at the noble
attitude of Brazil in this great conflict, it is a pleasure to me
to reiterate to you the assurance of my most distinguished
consideration.
Marino Vasquez,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA
(Telegram from Bogota, June 24, 1917.)
[Text in Spanish.]
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Rio),
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the
kind circular note of the 19th instant, in which Your Excellency
was good enough to inform the friendly nations that the President
of your Republic has sanctioned the law revoking Brazil's
neutrality in the war between the United States and the German
Empire, that Brazil regards the first as an integral part of the
American contiticnt and that she is bound to it by a traditional
friendship for the defence of American interests and for the
principles acknowledged by International Law, that Brazil
is not influenced by warlike ambitions, but could not remain
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 65
indifferent once the United States entered the war to defend
the respect for international order, that Germany on her
part extended to Brazil and other neutral countries the most
violent military acts, that if hitherto the lack of reciprocity
deprived the Monroe Doctrine of its real character, the present
conduct of Brazil gives her policy an appearance of continental
solidarity now that her cause is that 'of the other American
nations, that Brazil obeys in all this her traditions and follows
the liberal principles in which the Nation was educated, and
that whatever may happen, the Constitution will be maintained
in respect to the protection of the lives and interests of foreigners
residing in the country ; I have hastened to send this communi-
cation to the President of the Republic, and in accordance
with his instructions I tender Your Excellency the due measure
of thanks which this communication deserves, as well as the
high appreciation in which the Colombian nation holds the
motives, objects, and ends which determine and constitute
the most important attitude of your country in the present
international conflict.
I offer Your Excellency the assurance of my most distinguished
consideration.
Marco Fidel Suarez,
THE UNITED STATES OF MEXICO
[Text in Spanish.']
Mexican Legation, Rio de Janeiro,
June 25, 191 7.
Monsieur le Ministre,
In accordance with telegraphic instructions received
to-day from the Under Secretary in Charge of the Foreign
Affairs Office, it is a pleasure to me to inform Your Excellency
that he has already brought to the notice of the Constitutional
President of Mexico your kind message of the 19th instant,
in which you were good enough to inform the Mexican Govern-
ment of the motives which inspired Brazil in her revocation
of the declaration of neutrality in the struggle between the
United States and Gennany.
Also at the request of my Government, I beg Your Excel-
lency to bear to the Brazilian Government the sincere thanks
of my Government for the kindness in communicating the said
resolution.
5
66 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
I avail myself of the opportunity, Monsieur le Ministre, to
renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest and
most distinguished consideration.
A. Sanchez Fuentes,
ad interim Charg^ d*Affaires
Dr. Nilo Peganha,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the United States
of Brazil.
THE REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY
{Text in Spanish."]
Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Political and Diplomatic Section. No. 120.
Asunci6n, June 26, 19 17.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have had the honour to receive Your Excellency's
note containing the notification made by the Brazilian Govern-
ment to the friendly Governments that the decree announcing
Brazil's neutrality in the war between the United States of
America and the German Empire has been revoked, Brazil
justifying her attitude by many arguments of American solidarity
and similarity of ideals in International Law.
In the interview at which I had the honour to receive from
Your Excellency's hands that important document, I had the
opportunity to recall, on account of their bearing on the matter,
the previous declarations of my Government.
In its note of February 12 to the American Legation this
Chancery stated " that in the regrettable event of a war between
the United States or any other sovereign state of America and
one or several of the Great Powers of the other continents, the
Government of Paraguay would adopt the attitude that the
international life of the Republics of this hemisphere would
be gravely affected, for their political, moral, and economic
solidarity has become more and more emphasized in the last
thirty years."
And on April 16, defining this conception, this Chancery
stated in a note to the Legation in the worthy charge of Your
Excellency that " the laws of neutrality, rigidly imperative
in foreign conflicts, suffer the modification which is naturally
imposed upon them by the force of the moral interests of
solidarity between the American Republics.'*
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 67
With these ideas and sentiments the Government of Paraguay
receives to-day the notification of the important resolution
contained in Your Excellency's favour, availing itself of the
opportunity to ratify once more to the Government of Brazil
the protests of its invariable friendship.
Accept, Your Excellency, the expressions of my high con-
sideration and esteem.
M. Gondra.
His Excellency, the Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States
ol Brazil, Dr. D. Josi Manuel Cardoso de
Oliveira (Asunci6n).
THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
(Telegram from Panamd of June 27, 1917.)
\Text in Spanish.]
The Minister for Foreign Affairs,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your
Excellency's kind telegram, in which you were good enough
to inform me that the President of your Republic sanctioned
the law revoking Brazil's neutrality in the war between
the United States and Germany. The same sentiments
which inspired this determination of Your Excellency's
Government, together with the special bonds which unite^
the RepubUc of Panama to the United States through the
immediate co-operation of both peoples in the great work
of the Canal, impelled our National Congress to declare its
solidarity with the North American Republic in the present
circumstances, and the President of this Republic to announce
that Panama could not remain neutral in this struggle but would
co-operate with the United States in defence of the Canal.
In thanking Your Excellency for your kind communication,
it is a pleasure to me to express to you the lively sympathy
of the Government and people of Panama towards the Brazilian
Government and people, and the satisfaction with which the
Government has seen your country affiliate herself with the cause
of the right and liberty of peoples.
I avail myself of this opportunity to express to Your
PCxcellency the assurance of my highest consideration.
Narciso Garay,
Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
68 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA^
[Text in Spanish.]
Secretariat of State. No. 443.
Havana, June 27, 191 7.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your
Excellency's kind note dated June 4, in which you were good
enough to inform this Government in the name of Your Excel-
lency's Government that the President of the Republic af
Brazil had sanctioned the law revoking neutrality hitherto
adopted by Brazil in the war between the United States of
America and the German Empire.
Your Excellency points out, moreover, that the Brazilian
Government's determination to revoke her neutrahty in this
struggle is not based upon any ambitious notion, but on her
desire to recognize, in her present attitude, the United States
as a beUigerent to whom she is bound by a traditional friend-
ship, and by a similar and disinterested purpose in the defence
of the principles recognized by International Law, and by a
similarity in her point of view as to the safeguarding of the
vital interests of the continent of which the North American
people forms an integral part.
Your Excellency also points out that Brazil could no longer
look on with indifference at the entrance into the war of one of
the peoples which had always, with the greatest energy and
courage, defended the principles sacred to modem International
Law, and in particular those maintained in the Monroe Doctrine,
in so far as it supports the inviolability of the sovereignty of
the peoples of America ; on which account Your Excellency's
Government considers that it has realized an act which may
support and strengthen, in its foreign policy, continental
solidarity, and which tends, in any case, to give more force to
the attitude of the peoples of America, since the German Empire
broke covenanted treaties and systematically violated the rights
of neutrals.
In answering Your Excellency's note, I beg you will convey
to the Government, which Your Excellency represents, the
lively sympathy which the Government of Cuba feels towards
an act of such importance as your Government has just
realized.
[* Cuba declared war on Germany April 7, 1917.]
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 69
I avail myself of this opportunity to reiterate to Your
Excellency the assurance of my highest and distinguished
consideration.
Pablo Desvernine,
His Excellency f Monsieur Alfredo Carlos Alcoforado,
Envoy Extraordmary and Minister jPlenipotentiary
oi the United States of Brazil.
THE REPUBLIC OF ECUADOR '
\Text in Spanish.]
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ecuador. No. io8.
Quito, June 27, 1917.
Monsieur le Charge d'affaires,
The fact that I was away a few days from Quito, on
leave of absence, has caused the lively annoyance of not being
able to give an immediate reply to your important note of
the 15th instant.
In it you were good enough to inform me that the President
of the Republic instructed you to inform the Government of
Ecuador that the decree declaring the neutrality of Brazil
in the war between the United States of America and the German
Empire has been revoked. You add that the Republic, once
that the belligerents form a part [sic for " one of the belligerents
forming a part "] of the American continent, is united to it
by ties of traditional friendship and a similarity of political
opinion for the defence of the vital interests of America, and
the principles accepted by International Law. You continue
that Brazil never had, nor has now, warlike ambitions, and
that if she abstained hitherto from any partiahty in the struggle
caused by the European war she could not henceforth continue
indifferent to it, once the United States was drawn into the
struggle, not for any spurious interest, but in the defence of a
respect for International Law.
You conclude by saying that events have placed Brazil at
the side of the United States in the critical moment of the
present time, in which your country has done nothing but
follow the policy of continental solidarity which has been your
policy since the time of the old regime, in every case when any
[* See postf p. 106, for Rtfpture oi Relations with Germany.]
70 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
one of the American peoples, united to Brazil by bonds of
continental friendship, has been in jeopardy.
The declarations contained in the note which I am answering
show that the highest conception pf Americanism animates
Brazil in her relations with the sister nations of the Continent,
to whom she is united by ties of a traditional friendship and
a similarity of political thought in the defence of the vital
interests and principles accepted as good by International
Law.
My (jovernment well understands that the procedure of
Brazil cannot be inspired by warlike ambitions, but by the
defence of recognized rights, tending to the fulfilment of her
previous declarations which are compatible with her inter-
national political life and with the most correct juridical
conception.
In deploring the reasons which have brought the war to our
continent, and which Brazil considers justify her conduct, I
must express the most lively sympathies for your country,
the more so as she has been influenced by the general motives
of the continental policy and American solidarity which have
always inspired Ecuador, and also the feelings of particular
respect for the sister State worthily represented by you.
I renew to j^ou at this opportunity the assurance of my
distinguished respect.
Tobar y Borgono,
The Honourable Dr. Jarbas Lcreti da Silva Lima,
Charge d'Affaires ol the United States of Brazil
in Quito. C.T.E. Ciudad.
REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA^
(Telegram front Managua, June 29, 1917.)
[Text in Spanish.]
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the
important telegram. 19th instant, with the terms of which my
Government agrees.
J. A. UrtechOy
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua.
]} Nicaragua broke off relations with Germany May 19.J
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 71
REPUBLIC OF HAITI*
{Telegram from Port au Prince, June 30, 1917.)
(Translation.)
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Rio),
I had the honour to receive the telegram of the 29th
instant, informing me that His Excellency the President of
the Repiiblic of Brazil sanctioned the law revoking the Decree
of neutraUty of Brazil in the war between the United States
of America and Germany.
In acknowledging to Your Excellency the receipt of this
communication, which was brought to the knowledge of the
(rovemment, I ask you to accept the assurance of my high
consideration.
Chatelain.
THE UNITED STATES OF VENEZUELA
[Text in Spanish,]
The United States of Venezuela,
Ministry for Foreign Affairs. D.P.E., No 763,
Caracas, July 17, 19 17.
Sir,
I have received the note from your Legation dated
the 8th ultimo, in which you kindly informed this Ministry that
His Excellency the President of the Repubhc of Brazil sanc-
tioned the law revoking Brazil's neutrality in the present war
between the United States of America and the German Empire.
I have read \vith the deep attention which it deserves the
statement which you make to explain the reasons which led
the Republic of Brazil to adopt the attitude defined in your
note.
In communicating the contents of the said note to my Govern-
ment, it was a pleasure to me to transmit also the sentiments
of unaltered friendship of the Brazilian Government and people
which His Excellency the President of the Repubhc of Brazil
charged you to express to the Government of Venezuela,
[I Haiti broke off relations June i8.]
72 TBB BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
My Government has received with the most lively satis-
faction the courteous expression of the sentiments of the
BraziUan people and Government, and has charged me to renew
to His Excellency the President of Brazil, through you, the
assurance of the cordial and sincere friendship and deep
sjmapathy which my country feels for your Government and
noble country.
I take the opportunity to renew to you the assurance of
my distinguished consideration.
Ign. Andrade.
The Honorable Carlos de Rosiaing Lisboa,
Charg6 d'Affaires ad interim oi the United
States oi Brazil.
THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY
(Translation.)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Christiania,
June lo, 1917.*
MoNSiEUK LE Charge d'affaires,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the note
of the 5th instant, in which you were good enough to transmit
to me the text of a telegram from the Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Brazil, with reference to the revocation of Brazil's
neutrality in the war between the United States of America
and the German Empire.
Deeply grateful for the kind words which His Excellency
the President of the Republic of the United States of Brazil
was good enough to employ, in the telegram, with reference to
the sentiments of friendship of the Brazilian people and Govern-
ment, I have the honour to ask you, Monsieur le Charge d'Affaires,
to have the goodness to carry to His Excellency the President
the assurance that these sentiments are sincerely shared by
the People and Government of Norway.
Please accept, Monsieur le Charge d'Affaires, the assurances
of my most distinguished consideration.
Iklen.
Monsieur Cesar Bodges,
Charge d'Affaires of Brazil, etc., etc.
* Arrived at this Ministry September 10, 19 17, when this volume was
in the press.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 73
KINGDOM OF DENMARK
{Translation.)
Udenrigsministeriet, Copenhagen,
June 14, 19 1 7.*
Monsieur le Ministre,
In your note of the 5th of this month Your Excellency
made me acquainted with the contents of a note sent telegraphi-
cally by your Government, with the object of being communi-
cated to the King's Government, and in which the Minister
for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Brazil was good enough
to bring to the knowledge of the King's Government the fact
that the President of the RepubUc had sanctioned the law
revoking Brazil's neutrality in the war between the United
States of America and the German Empire.
In acknowledging receipt of this communication, I ask
Your Excellency, Monsieur le Ministre, to be good enough at
the same time to bring to the knowledge of your Government
that this Government does complete justice to the sentiments
of unalterable friendship of the Brazihan people and Govern-
ment, expressed at the end of the said note, and with which
the King's Government cordially associates itself.
Please accept. Monsieur le Ministre, the assurance of my
high consideration.
Erik Scavenius,
Monsieur H. Alves de Araujo,
Minister of Brazil.
REPUBLIC OF HAITI
(Translation.)
Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs,
Port au Prince, July 27, 1917.'
Monsieur le Ministre,
T had the honour to receive the telegram, by which
Your Excellency was good enough to bring to my knowledge
the fact that His Excellency the President of the United States
of Brazil sanctioned the law revoking the neutraUty of that
coimtry in the war between the United States of America and
the German Empire.
* Arrived at this Ministry on September 10, 1917, when this volume
was in the press.
» Arrived at this Ministry on September 14, 191 7, when this volume
was in the press.
n THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
I did not delay in bringing this note to the knowledge of
my Government, wliich is not indifferent to the principles of
solidarity luminously set forth by Your Excellency.
It is a pleasure to me to profit by the occasion to express
to Your Excellency the deep sympathy of my Government
and the people of Haiti, asking you to bear these expressions
to the Brazilian Government and people.
Please accept, Monsieur le Ministre, the assurance of my
high consideration.
E, Dupuy.
His Excellency, ihe Minister for Foreign Affairs
of ihe United States of Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro.
REVOCATION OF NEUTRALITY IN THE WAR OF
GERMANY AGAINST THE POWERS OF EUROPE
AND JAPAN
DECREE NO. 12,533, OF JUNE 28, 1917.
Revokes decrees Nos. 11,038 of August 4, 11,066 of August 12,
11,092 of August 24, of 1914 ; 11,984 of March 10, and
12,171 of August 29, 1916, which ordered the observation
of complete neutrality in the war of France, Russia, Great
Britain, Japan, Portugal, and Italy against the German
Empire.
The President of the RepubUc of the United States of Brazil :
By virtue of the authority conferred upon him by § 14 of
Article 48 of the Brazilian Constitution, and having regard to
the manifestation of Congress in No. 2 of Article 2 of Decree
No. 3,266 of June i instant :
Resolves to declare null decrees Nos. 11,038 of August 4,
11,066 of August 12, 11,092 of August 24, of 1914 ; 11,984 of
March 10, and 12,171 of August 29, of 1916, which ordered the
observance of complete neutraUty in the war of France, Russia,
Great Britain, Japan, Portugal, and Italy against the German
Empire ; all dispositions to the contrary ate revoked.
Rio de Janeiro, June 28, 1917. 96th of Independence
and 29th of the RepubHc.
,Wencesl.\u Braz p. Gomes.
' Nilo Peganha,
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 75
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO THE
PATROLS OF THE NAVAL FORCES OPERATING
AGAINST GERMANY
NOTE FROM THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT TO
THE AMERICAN EMBASSY
Cabinet, No. 7 (12,239). Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
Rio de Janeiro, June 29, 1917.
Monsieur l'Ambassadeur,
The Brazilian Government, with the firm intention of
accelerating and developing its merchant shipping abroad, has
made efforts to secure the necessary elements and is now well
fitted out for this mainly since the increase in the Lloyd
Brazileiro fleet through the utilization of the German ships
anchored in national harbours.
The dangers, however, to which navigation for long journeys
is subject compel the Brazilian Government to take certain
measures and precautions so as to safeguard, as far as possible,
her merchant fleet. z
For this purpose, I should be greatly obliged if Your Excel-
lency would inform me what is the zone patrolled or guarded
by the naval forces of your country, so that with the assistance
of the war fleet of Brazil, on our coasts and for mutual interest,
Brazilian ships may derive, for their greater safety, the full
benefit of these patrols.
I have no hesitation in asking Your Excellency for this
information, since Brazil's neutraUty has been withdrawn in
the present war between the United States of America and the
German Empire.
I have the honour to reiterate to Your Excellency the
assurance of my very high consideration.
Nilo Peganha.
His Excellency^ Edwin Vernon Morgan^
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the United States of America.
In the same terms, mutatis mutandis and under the same
dates, other notes were sent out by the Minister's Cabinet to
the British Legation, No 4 (12,240) ; to the French Legation
(No. 2, 12,241), to the ItaUan Legation (No. i, 12,244), ^^^^
to the Japanese Legation, No. i (12,238).
The respective repHes are not published on account of the
secret information in them.
76 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
TREATMENT OF BRAZILIANS IN GERMANY
SUMMARY OF A NOTE VERBALE FROM THE SWISS
GOVERNMENT TO THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION
IN BERNE
{Telegram from that Legation on August 9, 1917.)
It has become extremely difficult to enable Brazilians to
obtain permission to leave Germany. Many have been waiting
in vain for many weeks for this permission. This being the
case, the Swiss Legation in Berlin is obliged to provide means
of existence for those who for the most part are without resources ;
for in spite of the generally recognized principles of assistance
for the needy in such circumstances, the German Government
refuses this treatment to the subjects of enemy countries, or
of a Power in the position of Brazil.
Berne, August 9, 191 7.
NOTE VERBALE FROM THE BRAZILIAN TO THE
SWISS GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE BRAZILIAN
LEGATION AT BERNE
[I'elegram to the Legation of August 11, 1917.)
Please forward verbal note to the Swiss Government in the
following terms :
The Brazilian Government has learned from a note verbale
of your Ministry that the Brazilians still in Germany are being
treated in a manner diametrically opposed to the treatment
which the Germans in Brazil enjoy, where they freely carry
on their ordinary activity in various branches of commerce
and industry, in the enjoyment of all rights just as natives.
Even the captains, officers, and seamen, almost three thousand
men, from the German ships utilized by Brazil, are being treated
with care, well lodged and fed by the Government.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 77
Under these circumstances, the lack of reciprocity on the
part of the German Government is not permissible, nor would
it be right to allow this state of affairs to continue without the
Brazilian Government taking measures of reprisal corresponding
to the measures from which the Brazilian colony in Germany
is suffering.
Meanwhile, the Government hopes that the German Govern-
ment will facihtate the departure of Brazilians from its
territory so as to avoid all avoidable evils.
JV*7o Peganha.
TELEGRAM OF THE NETHERLANDS GOVERNMENT
TO ITS LEGATION IN THIS CITY, COMMUNI-
CATED BY COPY TO THE BRAZILIAN GOVERN-
MENT
(Note from that Legation of August 27, 1917.)
(Translation,)
The Hague, August 25. 5,5 p.m.
Dutch Legation, Rio,
Your 58 received. I think it well that you should
inform the Brazilian Government that Brazilian citizens in
Germany (are) not prevented from leaving the country, nor
treated discourteously.
They are obliged to appear regularly before the local
authorities (and) to obey the general rules relating (to the)
right of domicile.
To leave Germany they must obtain, as must Germans
themselves, a special permit, which necessitates a thorough
examination as to their personality, which naturally involves
a certain time.
Hoping that the Brazilian Government will continue to grant
to German subjects in the future the liberty they enjoy at
present, the Imperial Government will make efforts to accelerate,
as much as possible, the above-mentioned formalities.
Loudon Trenteneuf,^
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
[1 Sic]
78 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
POLICY OF AMERICAN FRATERNITY
INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE BRAZILIAN GOVERN-
MENT TO ITS MINISTER IN BUENOS AIRES
The Minister's Cabinet,
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro,
July 4, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre,
The organs of greater authority in public opinion
approved unreservedly the suggestion of your name for the
Legation in Buenos Aires. If the risks of the journey and
the cost of installing yourself in Madrid can have a compen-
sation, none could be dearer to your patriotism than to express
in Argentina, with your presence more than with the words
of the protocol, the sincere purposes of Brazil's policy.
It is a pity that our diplomatists continue, for the most part,
to consider their appointments to posts in America as a
punishment almost ; it is exactly because that is not your
feeling, and because you obeyed with such goodwill the order
of the President, that I take the liberty to recall to you, now
that Brazil is returning to the point of departure of her diplo-
matic history and her American ideals, that ninety-nine years
ago, our Minister in Paris wrote to Rio de Janeiro, in March
1818, to the Government of D. Joao VI : " Brazil's Allies by
birth must always be the North and South Americans. It is
in the United States and Buenos Aires that His Majesty should
have not ordinary Ministers, but Ambassadors or Ministers of
the first, rank, as much in capacity as in honour."
At this moment more than at any other we need a policy
of rapprochement and American solidarity in face of the European
War, both in its political aspects and also in what has regard
to the restrictions placed on the expansion of our natural wealth
abroad, since we cannot abandon our right to live and trade
freely with the world.
In laying down the bases of our policy in the River Plate,
Jose Bonifacio, the Foreign Minister in 1822, wrote to our
representative in Buenos Aires : " The condition of America
shows to all who have ears to hear and eyes to see that an
offensive and defensive league of the American States is neces-
sary in order to preserve intact their liberty and independence
threatened by European pretensions."
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 79
If to-day, nearly a century latei, we do not need to defend
ourselves from Europe, it is our duty to unite so that the two
Americas may provide a shelter for the principles and ideas in
which Europe educated us, which form the moral heritage of
the civilization of the Old World, and which the methods of war
adopted by the German Empire have placed in jeopardy.
The line we are following is the line of our diplomatic tradi-
tions : we took up our place at the side of the United States,
and the first tics of our political emancipation bind us to them ;
for we can never forget that Brazil, then a slave-owning Empire,
was, when the great Northern Republic refused mediation
from abroad in the War of Secession, the only nation whose
good offices she agreed to accept for the solution of her peace
at home, thus preserving the Monroe formula, but admitting
the respect and, indeed, confidence and prestige of the South
American nations.
Our initiative at the side of the United States had all the
precedents in the history of the country.
In 1864, we had also taken up a place at the side of our friends
of Chile when a Spanish squadron bombarded Valparaiso, and
then, as to-day, without pretending to exercise any influence
over the life or activities of the peoples living around us, we
pretend at least, vvithout pride or servility, never to have failed
in our duties as an American Nation.
Happily all attempts which arose in the course of the last
half-century to divide America have broken down ; the A. B. C*
itself, in spite of its admittedly noble motives or its high inspira-
tions, has not gone any further as it seemed that it would cause
a division ; the instinct of our own preservation, the advantage
of not discussing in America questions which time has buried,
as if they are asking in contradistinction to the A. B. C. for the
complete alphabet, go to perpetuate the prayer of Bolivar in
these prophetic words : "It is only united that America will
be able to present herself to the world with an appearance of
majesty and greatness unexampled in the Nations of
Antiquity."
This policy of ours, of American fraternity without ambiguity
or subtleties, is the historic poHcy of Brazil and of that great
country [Argentina] ; and, indeed, was perhaps never so well
described as by Manuel Garcia, the famous Argentine diplo-
matist, who was here at the time of our independence, and who
[* A Treaty of Arbitration, between Argentina, Brazil, and Chile,
signed in May 1915, but not completely ratified : it provoked much hostile
ciiticiam in South America ; it will not probably come into force.]
80 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
knew lis thoroughly : " The interests of the House of Bragan^a
have become homogeneous with those of the continent, in the
same way as those of the United States and those of any other
sovereign people established on this side of the Atlantic/'
Endeavour, therefore, to tighten more and more the bonds
which hold together the two friendly Republics ; these are
unrestrictedly the instructions of the Federal Government.
I have the honour to renew to your Excellency the assurance
of my perfect esteem and distinguished consideration.
Nilo Peganha.
His Excellency t Dt. Alcibiades Peganha^
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
oi Brazil in Buenos Aires.
RUPTURE OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN
THE REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA AND THE
GERMAN EMPIRE
NOTE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF COSTA RICA
TO THAT OF BRAZIL BY TELEGRAPH
[Text in Spanish.']
San Jos£, Costa Rica,
September 23, 1917.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rio.
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that
to-day my Government has found itself obliged to suspend
diplomatic relations with the Geiman Government in view of
the fact that the cause of humanity compromised in the present
world conflict demands it as well as do motives of strict conti-
nental solidarity, which in a manner both opportune and correct
Your Excellency set forth in communicating to this Government
the revocation of Brazil's neutrahty ; these arguments have
led Costa Rica to proceed in a similar fashion. I am, with the
highest consideration, Your Excellency's
Carlos Lara,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
THE BRAZILIAN GUEEN BOOK 81
NOTE FROM THE BRAZILIAN TO THE COSTA
RICAN GOVERNMENT, DISPATCHED BY TELEGRAPH
September 26, 191 7.
His ExcELLE^XY, Dr. Carlos de Lara, Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Costa Rica,
We consider of great importance your Excellency's
dispatch, which communicates the rupture of relations between
your liberal and cultured nation and the German Empire, which,
in the motives of its resolution, was greatly influenced by the
spirit of Brazil's attitude in revoking her neutrality in the
European war.
In thanking Your Excellency for this distinction, I express
hopes, in the name of the President of the Republic, for the
prosperity of Costa Rica and her Government, as well as for
the success of the policy guiding us, which is that of the
fraternization and union of the whole of America.
Please accept personally. Your Excellency, my congratulations.
Nilo Peganha,
RUPTURE OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN
THE REPUBLIC OF PERU AND THE GERMAN
EMPIRE
TELEGRAM FROM THE PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT
TO ITS LEGATION IN RIO DE JANEIRO, AND
COMMUNICATED TO THE BRAZILIAN GOVERN-
MENT
[Text in Spanish,]
Lima, October 6, 191 7.
The uselessness of the efforts to bring the German Government
to settle our claim for the sinking of the barque Lorton in
February of the present year, in violation of the fundamental
principles of International Law, has forced this Chancery to
demand of the German Government the satisfactory settlement
of the affair within a period of eight days ; but the declaration
made in Berlin to the Peruvian Minister that the German
Govemm.ent considered it absolutely impossible to settle the
affair in so short a period, decided me to ask for a meeting of
6
82 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
Congress to inform it of the Government's detemunation to
break off diplomatic relations with Germany : the resolution
was passed by 105 votes to 6.
I immediately ordered the Peruvian Minister in Berlin to
ask for his passports, and have just handed passports to the
German Minister here.
Inform the Government there of this state of affairs ; in
the meanwhile we will send a direct communication informing
it of the fact.
Tndela.
NOTE FROM THE PERUVIAN TO THE BRAZILIAN
GOVERNMENT, BY TELEGRAPH
[Text in Spanish.']
Lima, October 9, 191 7.
The Minister Foreign Affairs, Rio.
From the beginning of the great armed struggle in
which are involved the most powerful nations of the world,
the Peruvian Government has strictly fulfilled the duties which
International Law imposed upon it, and has upheld loyally the
neutrality of the Republic, assured that its rights as a neutral
would in their turn be respected by the belligerents.
When the war spread to the continent of America, in spite
of the efforts which for some three years the Government of
the United States put forth to keep that great people out of
the struggle, new duties arose for Peru, based upon her desire
for continental soHdarity, which has always formed the line of
her foreign policy, and upon her necessity to defend her rights
against the new form of sea warfare set up by Gennany.
It was on this account that the Government, when advised
of the declaration of war of the United States caused by the
acts of the Berhn Government in violation of the rights of
people, far from declaring itself neutral, acknowledged the jus-
tice of the attitude assumed by the Washington Government ;
and it was on this account also that the President of Peru, in
his Message to Congress and the Minister for Foreign Affairs
in the Chamber of Deputies, declared solemnly, \vith the express
ratification of Parliament, the adhesion of our country to the
principles of international justice proclaimed by President
Wilson.
The Peruvian Government could have desired that the policy
of the continent should have been made uniform with the
I
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 83
attitude of the Washington Government, which took its place
in the defence of neutral interests and unfolded the flag of
justice as the aim of the war. But the course of events did not
bring about the reVization of this solidarity as a collective
act, and the individual countries of America found cause for
their actions either in the defence of their own rights trampled
undei foot, or in their individual adhesion to the principles
invoked by the United States.
Peru on her part, while she endeavoured to realize her purpose
that a uniform continental policy should prevail, maintained
with all firmness the integrity of her rights as a sovereign
nation in the presence of the German refusal to recognize the
principles of sea warfare, and it is in defence of these rights
that she has reached the rupture of her diplomatic relations
with the Imperial Government as the result of an offence for
which she made claims duly without obtaining the necessary
reparation.
The sinking of the barque Lorton by a German submarine,
on the coast of Spain, when that vessel was travelling between
neutral ports, carr5dng on a licit trade, without even contravening
the German dispositions with regard to barred zones, which are
not recognized by International Law ; and the refusal of the
German Government to satisfy our just demands, in spite of
the invocation of the general principles of International Law,
the consideration of the case, even within the arbitrary rules
proclaimed by that Government and the presentation of a
precedent in which a similar claim was settled by it ui a favour-
able manner, are facts which have made clear to Peru that the
pohcy of the German Government is carried out \vith an entire
lack of justice, and that the attempt is justified which endeavours
to put an end to this policy, so that a juridical standard which
will establish for ever, in the relations between nations, the
predominance of right, may prevail.
The contents of this communication and the documents
which I shall send to Your Excellency, will enable your Govern-
ment to learn the basic motives which determined our attitude,
as well as the procedure of the negotiations to which I have
referred, and to which the Government, with the express
approval of Parliament, has put an end by recaUing its Minister
in Berlin and handing passports to the representative of Germany
in this city.
I avail myself of the opportunity to offer Your Excellency
the assurance of my high and distinguished consideration.
Francisco Tudela.
84 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOR
NOTE FROM THE BRAZILIAN TO THE PERUVIAN
GOVERNMENT, BY TELEGRAPH
October lo, 1917.
His Excellency, Francisco Tudela y Varela, Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Lima,
I have the honour to offer Your Excellency and your
Government, together with my thanks for the important commu-
nication which I have just received, the congratulations of
Brazil and the President on the stand which Pern has taken
in the struggle which divides Europe at the present moment,
and in which the future of the independence and freedom of
the nations is at stake.
Peru, if Your Excellency \^''ill allow me to say so, has just
taken a great stride in international policy both in condemning
the violent methods of German warfare, in so far as they are
vexatious and coercive to the freedom of trade of j^our glorious
flag, and in helping America to maintain, now more than ever,
a single truly American point of view, bringing together day
by day the New World in a soHdarity which is already geo-
graphical, historical, and economic, and which must be
political also, influencing us all towards fraternization and
the unity of the Republics of the continent.
Please accept. Monsieur le Ministre, my congratulations on
the parliamentary ratification of your Government's high
conception.
Nilo Peganha.
RUPTURE OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN
THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY AND
THE GERMAN EMPIRE
COMMUNICATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF
URUGUAY TO THAT OF BRAZIL THROUGH
ITS LEGATION IN RIO DE JANEIRO
[Received October 16, 1917.)
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that the Govern-
ment of Uruguay, under the date of the 7th instant, has
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 85
declared broken off the diplomatic and commercial relations
with the German Government ; and, authorized expressly by
the National Assembly, drew up yesterday a Decree revoking,
with reference to France, Britain, Belgium, Italy, Portugal,
Russia, Japan, Serbia, Rumania, and Montenegro the dis-
positions then in force regarding neutrality.
In adopting this attitude, Uruguay does so through holding
the opinion that it is no longer possible for her to remain
a passive spectator in the world struggle when the supreme
interests of democracy are being challenged by German autoc-
racy, and in which are taking part countries united to Uruguay
by a similarity of ideals, and to which she should offer her
moral assistance and support.
Uruguay takes her place in the League of Honour, to which
President Wilson alluded, ratifying at such a solemn time his
honest and dispassionate policy, untouched by any inferior
material interest ; and in doing so, she has no particular outrage
to avenge, or direct offence to repress, but her attitude is based
exclusively on principles of soUdarity with the defenders of
Right and Justice, who, while they are the mighty champions
of small nationalities, are also self-denjdng fighters for universal
democracy.
Baltasar Brum,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Uruguay.
NOTE FROM THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT TO
THE URUGUAYAN LEGATION
Cabinet. No. i.
Rio de Janeiro, October i6, 191 7.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to thank Your Excellency for the
communication from your Government, with reference to the
revocation of Uruguay's neutrality in the European war and
the rupture of her relations with the German Empire.
Brazil considers this event highly important ; if other peoples
have taken up a position in the European struggle to avenge
wrongs to their sovereignty or flag, Uruguay, faithful to her
previous poUcy and the traditions of her national history, has
done so disinterestedly in the joint defence of the American
Nations, consecrating in practice the doctrine of her memor-
86 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
able Decree of June i8,i by which she could not treat as a
belHgerent a country of America which found itself at war with
a Power of another continent.
Thus the democracies of the New World are gathering to-
gether : if all of them cannot give to the common cause, on
the fields of battle, the assistance of their armies (and there
are in Europe and Asia, AlUes and military Powers who also
have not done so yet), if some of them have not yet found it
convenient to give the co-operation of their war and merchant
fleets, none of them, nevertheless, have failed to protest the
freedom of their commerce agsdnst the excesses of German
autocracy, or are wanting in the duties emanating from
continental sohdarity.
Fortunately, Monsieur le Ministre, the European conflict
will not divide America. The Nations of the Continent will
continue united and friends, faithful to the cause of civiUzation
and justice, without an excess of words or gestures, and pre-
[^ The iollowing is the text of the Uruguayan Decree :
Montevideo, Jwne i8.
Whereas in various communications the Uruguayan Government has
proclaimed the principle of American solidarity as the governing motive
of its international policy, taking the point of view that an offence com-
mitted against the rights of any State of the continent should be considered
as committed against them all, and should give rise consequently to
common and uniform counter-representations ;
And whereas in the hope of seeing the realization of an agreement
between all the nations of this continent in this respect so that it will
be possible to make a practical and efficient application of these ideals,
the Government has adopted an anticipatory attitude with respect to
its actions, at the same time making known in each case its sympathy
with those continental countries which have been obliged to abandon
their neutrality ;
And whereas meanwhile, although this agreement has not yet been
concluded, Uruguay could not, without doing violence to her sentiments
and convictions, treat as belligerents those American countries which,
for the defence of their rights, found themselves involved in an inter-
continental war ;
And whereas this opinion is shared by the Uruguayan Senate :
The President of the Republic, in agreement with his Ministers, has
resolved : — •
(i) To declare that no American country which in defence of its rights
finds itself at war with nations of other continents will be treated as a
belligerent.
(2) To take steps to annul any dispositions to the contrary.
(3) To make this public.
(Signed) Viera, Balthasar Brum, Arthur Gaye, Pablo Varzi (Jnr.),
Federico R. Vidiella, Rodolfo Mezera, Arturo Jimenez de
Arechaga, Santiago Rivas,]
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 87
serving above all their personality, their right of decision, and
their sovereignty.
Please transmit, Monsieur le Ministre, to your enlightened
Government, the congratulations of the President of the Republic
and the assurance of the constant and loyal friendship of Brazil.
1 avail myself of the opportunity to renew to Your Excellency
the assurance of my high consideration.
Nilo Peganha.
His Excellency^ Dr. Manuel BetnardeZy
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of the Oriental of Uruguay.
With reference to the relations between the American States
and the German Empire, apart from the rupture of diplomatic
relations and the subsequent declaration of a state of war,
made, in the first place, by the United States of America, and
afterwards by Brazil, and from the recent declarations of a
rupture of relations communicated by the Governments of
Costa Rica, Peru, and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, other
communications had been previously received concerning a
rupture of relations on the part of the Governments of Bolivia,
Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, and of a state of war
on the part of the Governments of Panama, Cuba, and Haiti.
STATE OF WAR BETWEEN BRAZIL AND GERMANY
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
TO THE NATIONAL CONGRESS
Gentlemen of the National Congress,
I have to fulfil the lamentable duty of informing the
National Congress that, through telegrams from London and
Madrid, the Government has just learned that the BraziUan
ship Macau has been torpedoed by a German submarine, and
that its captain has been taken prisoner.
The fact that this is the fourth of our ships sunk by German
naval forces is serious in itself, but the gravity of the case in-
creases beyond measure with the capture of the Brazilian
captain.
This is not the time. Gentlemen of the National Congress, to
deceive ourselves about the situation, or to fail to recognize
eyen now the state of war imposed upon us by Gerrnany.
88 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
The prudence with which we have acted does not exclude,
but rather gives us, the exact authority, by maintaining unin-
jured the dignity of the Nation, to accept the facts as they are,
and to advise the reprisals of avowed belligerency.
If the National Congress, in its high wisdom, does not decide
to the contrary, the Government will order the occupation of
the German warship which is anchored in the port of Bahia,
placing the crew under arrest, and will decree the military
internment of the crews of the merchant ships utilized by us.
The moment seems to have arrived, Gentlemen of the
National Congress, to define according to law the defensive
position which events have determined for us, by strengthening
the means of national defence and completing the evolution of
our foreign policy according to the aggressions wliich Brazil
has suffered.
Wencesi.au Braz p. Gomes.
The Presidential Palace, Rio de Janeiro,
October 25, 1917.
DECREE NO. 3,361 OF OCTOBER 26, 1917.
Recognizes and proclaims the state of war initiated by the
German Empire against Brazil.
I, the President of the Republic of the United States of
Brazil, make known that the National Congress has decreed
and I sanction the following resolution :
Sole Article. — The state of war initiated by the German
Empire against Brazil is recognized and proclaimed, and the
President of the Republic is authorized to adopt the provisions
stated in his Message of October 25 instant, and to take all
the measures of national defence and public safety which he
may deem necessary, opening the necessary credits, or carrying
out the operations of credit desirable for this end ; dispositions
to the contrary are revoked.
Wenceslal Braz P. Gomes.
Nilo Peganha. ,
Jose Caetano de Faria.
Alexandrino Faria de Alencar.
Carlos Maximiliano Ferera dos Santos,
Antonio Carlos Ribeiro de Andrade.
A. Tavares de Lyra.
Rio de Janeiro, October 26, 1917. 96th of Independence
and 29th of the Republic,
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 89
CORRESPONDENCE WITH REFERENCE TO THE
DECLARATION OF A STATE OF WAR BETWEEN
BRAZIL AND THE GERMAN EMPIRE
MESSAGE FROM HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF GREAT
BRITAIN AND IRELAND TO THE PRESIDENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES
OF BRAZIL
(Dated October 27, 1917, and received November 3.)
{Translation.)
On learning this morning of Brazil's declaration of war on
the common enemy, I wish to offer Your Excellency, Monsieur
le President, my cordial congratulations and good wishes. The
adhesion of your great country to the cause of right will hasten
the day of final victory.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC'S REPLY
TO THE FOREGOING MESSAGE
(Dated November 3, 1917,)
I thank Your Majesty with pride for your warm and cordial
good wishes on the occasion of the decreeing of a state of war
between Brazil and Germany. Brazil, driven to this by the
repeated and inhuman attacks upon her merchant ships and
violent acts contrary to civilization, is ready to collaborate
with the Allies, according to her strength, in defence of the
Rights of Nations so flagrantly and repeatedly violated by the
German Governmen|,
\Venceslau Braz,
President of the Republic,
90 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA TO THE PRESIDENT OF
THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF
BRAZIL
Allow me to express to Your Excellency, in the name of
the people and Government of the United States, the sincere
pleasure and cordial welcome with which we hail the partici-
pation of the great Republic of Brazil with us and the other
nations united in the war against Germany. Your action, in
this moment of crisis, tightens the bonds of friendship which
have always held the two Repubhcs together.
Woodrow Wilson,
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC'S REPLY
TO THE FOREGOING MESSAGE
His Excellency, President Woodrow Wilson, Washing-
ton.
The Brazihan Nation has received with lively pleasure
the words in the telegram which Your Excellency sent me, as
the expression of the sentiments of the people and Government
of the United States, on the occasion of our proclamation of
a state of war against the enemy who set fire to the world.
In assuming this attitude in defence of the honour of her
flag and the imprescriptible rights of peoples, Brazil thus has
the honour to co-operate, in complete solidarity and perfect
accord, with the great friendly sister RepubHc, at the side of
the other AUied Nations, united in the w^ar against Germany
to safeguard the higher interests of civiUzation.
Perils incurred together will tighten, we are sure, with the
restoration of justice, freedom, and right in international affairs,
the bonds of the policy which is the consecrated tradition of
the people in whose name I return, through the high inter-
medium of Your Excellency, the sentiments of irrevocable
friendship of Brazil for the United States.
Wenceslau Bra2. p. Gomes.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 91
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH
REPUBLIC TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE RE-
PUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF BRAZIL
(Received November 6, 1917.)
{Translation.)
His Excellency, Monsieur Wenceslau Braz, President of
the Republic of the United States of Brazil.
At the time when, under the eminent magistrature
of Your Excellency, Brazil, determined to safeguard her sovereign
rights, decides by unanimous consent to join the cause of
liberty and right, France greets with feeling your noble country.
Faithful to the principles of Latin civiUzation, Brazil tightens
still more the fraternal bonds which already united us closely
to her, and solemnly affirms to the world the eternal power of
our common ideal. I make a point of expressing to Your
Excellency and your Government the congratulations of the
Government of the Republic at the same time as my personal
good wishes.
Poincare.
REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
TO THE FOREGOING MESSAGE
Novembef 7, 19 17.
His Excellency, Monsieur Raymond Poincar^, President
of the French Republic.
The BraziHan nation received with emotion the good
wishes of the French Repubhc which Your Excellency was
good enough to transmit to me on the occasion of our procla-
mation of a state of war against the enemy who set fire to the
world, and of our thus taking definitely our place at the side
of the countries who are fighting for the cause of liberty and
right. Grateful for this further manifestation of the nobility
of the glorious people, the highest representative of Latin great-
ness, Brazil, confident in the unconquerable force of the common
ideals which animate the Allies, is proud to see her destinies
identified with those of the noble Nation which, so strongly
^nd powerfully, contributed to her intelkictual formation, ajid
92 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
with those of the other countries which are attempting to save
from jthe German fury the consecrated advances of civilization.
With my best personal wishes for the future of Your Excellency
and your Government, I have the honour to ask you to bear
to it the fraternal sentiments of irrevocable friendship of
Brazil for France.
Wenceslau Braz p. Gomes.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE PORTU-
GUESE REPUBLIC TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF BRAZIL
November 9, 191 7.
His Excellency, Dr. Wenceslau Braz, President of the
Republic of the United States of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro.
By placing her immense resources at the service of
the cause of the Allies and co-operating effectively for the
realization of her high ideal of justice and liberty Brazil, as
one of the most progressive of peoples, thus solemnly affirms
her confidence in the definitive tiiumph of the Nations whicli
are fighting for the victory of the basic principles of civilization.
This noble attitude was to be expected at so grave a moment.
Allow me to express to you. Monsieur le President, in the
name of the Portuguese Nation, our admiration and enthusiasm,
congratulating myself with pride to see the Brazilian Republic,
always closely united to the Portuguese Republic, in so intimate
a fraternization of sentiments and aspirations.
Bernardino Machado.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC'S REPLY
TO THE FOREGOING MESSAGE
November 14, 1917.
His Excellency, Monsieur Bernardino Machado, President
of the Portuguese Republic.
The expressions of great dignity and friendship with
which Your Excellency, in the name of the Portuguese Nation,
referred to the attitude assumed by Brazil at the present moment,
in defence of the principles of Justice, Liberty, and CiWlization,
met with the most lively and fratemsjl reception throughout
the Bra?:ilian Nation,
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 98
Tradition, political ideals, and common interests, which
unite by unbreakable ties Brazil and Portugal, make brothers
of the Portuguese and Brazilians as much as the origin of race,
and cannot fail to bring it about that both, inspired by the
same will and similar aspirations, feel and think like one people
when there is a just cause to defend. To-day, more than ever,
this close union is confirmed.
I thank Your Excellency with deep feeling for your cordial
and gracious message.
Wenceslau Braz p. Gomes.
FROM THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC TO THE MINISTER
FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF BRAZIL
(Translation.)
November 2, 19 17.
In showing by a declaration of war, which received the
unanimous sanction of your Parliament, her complete solidarity
with the defenders of Right, your noble Nation has added to
the greatness of her past a new page of glory. I am proud,
at this solemn moment, to be able to offer you the assurance
of the fraternal unity of the French Republic. The act which
Your Excellency has just effected will remain in the history
of Brazil as the most brilUant proof of her fidelity to the prin-
ciples and ideal of Democracy. I am happy to send Your
Excellency, with my personal congratulations, my ardent good
wishes for your great country.
Louis Barthou.
FROM THE FRENCH MINISTER IN BRAZIL TO THE
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(Translation.)
October 27, 19 17.
All my congratulations, my dear Minister, for the great act
effected yesterday, fully worthy of your great country, of your
great traditions, and of the statesman who controls her inter-
national policy with such firmness and foresight. I am happy
to see Brazil and France reunited by bonds even closer than
94 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
ever. Please, Your Excellency, transmit my respectful con-
gratulations to the President of the Republic.
P. Claudel.
FROM THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF
PERU TO THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
OF BRAZIL
October 30, 19 17.
In learning of so important an event, I must express to Your
Excellency the fact that the Peruvian Government appreciate
the full measure of justice which accompanies Brazil in her
attitude, and that my country renews, at this moment, the
assurance of her deep sympathy for Your Excellency's country
to whom she is bound by similar ideals of continental solidarity
and by close bonds of an old friendship.
FROM THE MINISTER OF GREAT BRITAIN IN
BRAZIL TO THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS
(Translation.)
British Legation, Rio de Janeiro. No. 112.
October 31, 1917-
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour, to acknowledge receipt of Your
Excellency's note of the 26th instant, in which you inform me
that, in consequence of another Brazilian ship having been
torpedoed by a German submarine and its captain having been
taken prisoner, the President of the RepubHc has sanctioned
the law proclaiming a state of war between this country and
Germany.
I have now received instructions from the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs to express the great pleasure with which
His Majesty's Government welcomes the prospect of Brazil
fighting at our side for the cause of justice and liberty.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency
the assurance of my highest consideration.
Arthur Peel.
His Excellency^ Dr. Nilo Peganha,
Minister ior Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 95
FROM THE MINISTER OF BOLIVIA IN BRAZIL TO
THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
[Text in Spanish.]
Rio DE Janeiro, October, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have received to-day your kind note of the 26th,
informing me that another BraziUan ship having been torpedoed
by a German submarine and its captain having been made
prisoner, the President of the RepubHc has sanctioned the law
recognizing and proclaiming the state of war initiated by the
German Empire against Brazil.
In such a delicate position, I must inform you, Monsieur
le Ministre, that the foreign policy of my country has developed
along the same lines as that of Brazil, and His Excellency the
President of the Republic and his worthy Cabinet should reckon
on this orientation in the new aspect which the international
situation of America with regard to the European war has
assumed.
For this reason I greet you. Monsieur le Ministre, and subscribe
myself with all consideration, your obedient
Jose Carrasco.
FROM THE CHARGfi D'AFFAIRES OF THE REPUBLIC
OF CUBA IN BRAZIL TO THE MINISTER FOR
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
[Text in Spanish.}
Cuban Legation, Rio de Janeiro. No. 42.
November 3, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your
Excellency's kind circular note. No. 39, from the Direc-
torate-General of Political and Diplomatic Affairs, American
Section, of October 26 ultimo, in which you were good enough
to inform this Legation that another BraziUan ship having
been torpedoed by a German submarine and its captain having
been made prisoner, the President of the Repubhc has sanc-
tioned the law recognizing and proclaiming the state of war
initiated by the German Empire against Brazil, and authorizing
the Government to take the reprisals of open beUigerency.
96 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
I have informed my Government of the contents of the said
note, and the Government, together with the Cuban people,
feel a very real satisfaction to see Brazil, to whom they have
been always united by the most cordial bonds of friendship,
guide her foreign policy emphatically to the side of the peoples
who are fighting for the triumph of the right and respect of
small nationaUties.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excel-
lency the assurance of my highest and most distinguished
consideration.
Calixto Whitmarsh,
Charge d 'Affaires ad interim.
His Excellency t Dr. Nilo Peganha,
Minister for Foreign Afiairs, etc., etc., etc.
FROM THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF
THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY TO
THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION IN MONTEVIDEO
[Text in Spanish.]
Montevideo, November 5, 1917.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the pleasure to acknowledge receipt of the
note of October 29 ultimo, in which Your Excellency informed
me that your Government, authorized by Congress, has decreed
the recognition and proclamation of the state of war with
Germany, imposed by the action of that Power in injuring the
sovereignty, the goods, and the interests of Brazil.
The conduct of the German Government, characterized by
a profound disregard for the rights of all the countries which
are not her Allies, was severely condemned by Uruguay, which
declared at the proper time that she could not maintain diplo-
matic and commercial relations with a Gk)vemment which had
systematically established the violation and disregard for the
rights of neutral countries.
The new outrages which German submarines have just
committed against Brazil do not therefore surprise us, and this
fully justifies the resolution of Your Excellency's Government,
of which the note to which I have the honour to reply informs me.
Please be good enough. Your Excellency, to express to the
Brazilian Nation and Government the sentiments of loyal and
gracious friendship of the Uruguayan people and authorities,
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 97
and their good wishes for the triumph of the noble cause which
Brazil is about to defend with all the enthusiasm and enterprise
which characterize her.
I avail myself of this opportunity to inform Your Excellency
that the Uruguayan Government, in consequence of the declara-
tion made in the decree of June i8 ultimo, ^ will not consider
Brazil as a belligerent, and will not apply to her any disposition
related to neutrality.
I reiterate to Your Excellency the assurance of my high
consideration.
Baltasar Brum,
Dr. Cyro de Azevedo
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of Brazil,
TWO MORE SHIPS TORPEDOED
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
TO THE NATIONAL CONGRESS
Gentlemen of the National Congress,
I submit to the high knowledge of the members of
the National Congress the communication which the Govern-
ment has just received of the torpedoing by German submarine
in the waters of S. Vicente ^ of two more Brazilian ships.
Telegrams add that in this outrage by the enemy's naval
forces we lost two sailors and that four of them are wounded ;
the ships are the Acary,'^ of the Lloyd Brazileiro, and the
Guahyha, of the Commercio e Navegagao, and were sailing for
Havre with a cargo of coffee, hides, and cereals from Rio de
Janeiro and Santos.
If, as is seen, Germany continues to decimate our merchant
fleet and to stop by armed force our commercial relations with
the world, it is no longer to be tolerated that her commercial,
banking, and industrial representation and her colonizing rights,
should not suffer the Hmitations advised by our patriotism
[» See antey p. 86.]
[' Cape Verde Islands.]
[3 Ex-German Ebernburg.'] *
7
98 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
and that we should not take, with reference to them, the measures
of exclusion and legitimate defence which may be necessary.
Without sacrificing the liberal spirit of our laws, it is not
good policy that resources should be allowed to leave here for
the enemy Empire, or that the relations in respect to private
right of German subjects with the powers in authority should
continue as before, in view of the state of war.
It seems necessary : First to declare null contracts concluded
with Germans individually or as companies for public works
of any nature ; Second, to prevent the realization of any new
grants of land to German subjects or enterprises, with the
exception of such as have been already settled by their f amihes ;
Third, to supervise the activities of German banks and other
enterprises, the Government being enabled, according to circum-
stances, to suspend or annul the charters they may have for
operating in the country, and to extend this supervision or
acts of control to commercial houses or establishments of the
same nationality ; Fourth, to take measures to prevent the
transference of German property during the period of the war,
the Legislative Power assigning the limits of these measures
with regard to time ; Fifth, to intern, in a place not intended
for an ordinary prison, German subjects who prove to be trouble-
some or suspect with regard to the Brazilian cause.
These measures, or even others which Congress, in its wisdom,
may adopt, should be drawn up according to the written law,
avoiding thus the arbitrariness or excesses of the people or
authorities.
There will not fail to be those who will insist, in the examina-
tion of the suggestions made to Congress, such as those which
have reference to the concession of public lands for colonization,
on the constitutional prerogative of the States, but at this
moment above all Brazil is a whole, and no unit of the Federa-
tion should fail to respect and obey the sovereign authority
of the Union.
In submitting these ideas to the judgment and better
inspiration of the Representatives of the Nation, I must finally
inform you that I have already authorized the Ministers of
State for War and Naval Affairs to make without restrictions
the changes and take the measures which are necessary for the
efficiency and military organization of the Republic.
Wenceslau Braz p. Gomes.
Presidential Palace, Rio de Janeiro, '
November 3, 191 7.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 99
LAW NO. 3,393 OF NOVEMBER 16, 1917
Authorizes the Government from now until December 31 to
declare successively a state of siege in the parts of the
territory of the Union where the necessities and require-
ments of the situation demand it, and gives other provisions.
I, the President of the Republic of the United States of
Brazil, make known that the National Congress has decreed,
and I sanction, the following law :
Article i. — The Government is authorized from now until
December 31 to declare successively a state of siege, for constitu-
tional ends, in the parts of the territory of the Union where
the necessities and requirements of the present situation of
the country, owing to the war imposed upon it by Germany,
demand it.
Article 2. — The Executive Power is authorized to declare
null, during the period of the war, contracts and operations
concluded with enemy subjects, individually or as companies,
for supplies or public works of any nature, and also all negotia-
tions which, in the opinion of the Government, may be considered
injurious to national interests.
Article 3. — The Government is empowered, under the title
of reprisals, to decree :
(a) That enemy subjects, their agents, administrators, or
holders, by any title, of goods, effects, revenues, or credits,
belonging to enemy subjects, as well as debtors of sums, revenues,
or goods of any nature to enemy creditors, should declare, in
detail, before the authority appointed therefor, and within the
period fixed, the nature and value of the said goods, sums,
revenues, effects, or credits, under the penalty, in the case of
refusal or omission, of a fine to the infringer which shall not
exceed an amount corresponding to 50 per cent, of the
undeclared value ;
(6) the sequestration not only of all the goods, amounts,
revenues, effects, or credits referred to under letter (a), but also
those of which enemy subjects are creditors, in banks, banking
houses, savings banks, pawnbrokers* or private establishments
which receive on deposit, as guarantee, or for any object, goods,
revenues, or merchandise ;
100 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
(c) the retention, in Custom Houses or public or private
warehouses, of merchandise intended for enemies and found
in their respective storehouses, being enabled to order the sale
of the same, and to deposit the proceeds in the National
Treasury, where they will be credited to each individual with
full details, as a guarantee for indemnities for damage caused
by the enemy to the Nation or to individuals ;
(d) the restriction, suspension, or use and enjo3niient, in the
interests of national defence, of rights belonging to enemy
subjects with respect to industrial property ;
(e) the prohibition of commercial relations between natives
or foreigners resident in Brazil with enemy subjects living
abroad, whether by direct relations or through banks, banking,
or commercial houses, or private individuals established here
or in neutral countries under the penalty of a fine of from one
to three contos of reis and the confiscation of the effects of
such transactions ;
(/) the inability of enemy subjects to take part in legal
actions, as plaintiffs, with the object of obtaining patrimonial
rights. This inability will not be extended to divisional actions,
either administrative or contentious, the Public Ministry taking
part in the various actions. The prescription does not operate
against those under this inability if declared as above ;
(g) The suspension of judicial executions by pronounced
sentence in civil or commercial cases, in favour of enemy subjects
against natives or foreigners resident in Brazil ;
{h) the suspension of exportation abroad of merchandise or
goods of any nature, of enemy ownership, including deeds,
money, silver, or coined gold ;
(i) the liquidation of enemy enterprises, individually or as
a whole, with due protection of national rights ;
{/) a special supervision on enemy enterprises whatever
their nature, being enabled to suspend their operations or
cancel their authority to operate in Brazil ;
{k) The internment in concentration camps, or in places not
intended for ordinary prisons, of enemy subjects who prove to
be troublesome or suspect to the Brazilian cause.
Article 4. — ^The Government is authorized to enter into agree-
ment with the States for the revision of the existing contracts
for concessions of public land, being enabled to rescind them,
the Union assuming the onus of indemnity, with due respect
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 101
for the rights of settlers or proprietors already definitely
settled.
Article 5. — During the period of the state of war a Brazilian
or foreigner, not of enemy origin, a partner of an enemy in any
company under a joint name, or in capital and industry, or as
a sleeping partner, has the right to move the dissolution and
liquidation of the contract of partnership.
Article 6. — Commercial or industrial establishments, associa-
tions, companies, including limited liability companies, banks,
factories, or warehouses, will be considered as of enemy pro-
prietorship whenever the total capital, or the greater part
of it, belongs to enemy subjects, wherever may be the head
offices, in Brazil or abroad.
Article 7. — If an individual has more than one nationality,
by reason of nationalization obtained in another country, and
one of these is enemy, he will be considered as an enemy subject.
§ I. An enemy subject who had become a naturalized Brazilian
before the declaration of war is excepted from this.
§ 2. For the period of the duration of the war the naturah-
zation of enemy subjects is suspended, or of subjects of nations
allied to the enemy.
Article 8. — ^The Government will set down in regulations or
by instructions the process of enrolment and inscription of
goods of enemy proprietorship, the supervision, sequestration,
and administration of the same, as well as their eventual liquida-
tion, in the terms of the present law, being enabled to nominate
the administrators, agents, or liquidators with the powers and
faculties necessary, Brazilian partners having preference for
these posts according to their share of capital or seniority.
Article 9. — Insurance Societies administrated or belonging to
enemies operating and having contracts in Brazil will be sub-
jected to a special control which will be set up by the Government
so as to safeguard the rights of BraziUans insured.
Article 10. — When the Hquidation of the enemy enterprises,
estabUshments, companies, associations, banks, factories, and
commercial houses is decreed, the Government will be enabled
to order that the proceeds be deposited in the National Treasury,
with due protection of the rights of natives and foreign subjects
not of enemy origin.
102 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
Sole Paragraph. — From this deposit enemy subjects will
be allowed to withdraw monthly for their support, according
to civil legislation, sums of money which, in the opinion of the
Government, may be thought sufficient.
Article ii. — ^AU the acts already put in force by the Government
ordering measures in advance of this law are approved, the
sole article of Decree No. 3,361 of October 26 of the present
year remaining in force.
Article 12. — ^The Executive Power is authorized to make the
necessary operations and open credits for the execution of this
law;
Article 13. — ^This law will come into force at once. The
Executive Power will take immediate steps that the whole text
of the law shall be communicated by telegraph to the Governors
or. Presidents of the States and to the Prefects of the Acre
Territory, who will be instructed to pubUsh it immediately.
Article 14. — ^Dispositions to the contrary are revoked.
Rio de Janeiro, November 16, 1917, 96th of Independence
and 29th of the Republic.
Wenceslau Braz p. Gomes.
Carlos Maximiliano Pereira dos Santos.
ALLIED, CONFERENCE AT PARIS ON NOVEMBER 30,
1917
INVITATION TO THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT TO
SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO THIS CONFER-
ENCE. CHOICE OF HER REPRESENTATIVE
The Brazilian Government was invited on November 13 to
the Conference of Allies which met at Paris, November 30,
1 917, and immediately chose as its Representative Dr. Olyntho
M. de Magalhaes, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni-
potentiary of Brazil to the Government of the French Republic.
The Conference closed on December 3.
/
TEE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 103
MEASURES OF PRECAUTION WITH RESPECT TO
GERMAN SUBJECTS WHO EXERCISE CONSULAR
FUNCTIONS IN BRAZIL ON BEHALF OF OTHER
NATIONS
CIRCULAR NOTE TO THE LEGATIONS OF
NEUTRAL COUNTRIES
Directorate General of Political and Diplomatic Affairs.
Section of . . . Affairs. No. 41 (Circular).
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro,
November 27, 1917,
Monsieur le Ministre,
The state of war existing now between Brazil and the German
Empire forces the Brazilian Government to take measures of
precaution simultaneously with other measures of vigilance
and public safety with reference to the continuance of German
subjects within its territory. These measures, which cannot
but be of a general character, restraining the liberty of action
of the said subjects, forbid them naturally from exercising the
least authority in any national or foreign position within the
limits of Brazilian jurisdiction.
To allow the contrary would be manifestly imprudent, and
would be the probable cause of evils perhaps irremediable.
In fulfilment of such measures, the Brazilian authorities are
dismissing all German subjects who fill public positions or
commissions in Brazil and abroad, thus withdrawing from them
the means of effectively favouring the cause of their country
if such were their intention.
The Federal Government proceeding thus, I must inform
Your Excellency that, according to the universal practice and
custom, it would not be possible to exempt from those measures
German subjects who have until the present exercised consular
functions in Brazil on behalf of other friendly nations The
exequatur granted to them was obtained under normal condi-
tions without taking into consideration the nationality of each
of them. To-day, however, this point is of unquestionable
importance, since German agents become incompatible with
104 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
the state of war existing between Brazil and their country, by
reason of the local ascendancy and prerogatives which come to
them from the very nature of the charges they fulfil.
The Federal Government, nevertheless, does not wish, by an
imperative act, to cancel the exequatur already granted, in order
not to disturb the commercial transactions of friendly nations
on national soil, but it is convinced that the Governments ot
these friendly nations, in view of the foregoing considerations,
will not hesitate to take prompt measures to remove subjects
of the German Empire from the lists of their functionaries
in Brazil.
Nilo Peganha.
NEUTRALITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE IN THE
WAR BETWEEN BRAZIL AND GERMANY
COMMUNICATION FROM THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION
IN SANTIAGO TO THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS
{Telegram of December 5, 1917.)
Santiago de Chile. Foreign Affairs, Rio.
PubHshed to-day Notice ^ from the Ministry for Foreign
Affairs of November 30 directed to the other departments,
communicating the Government's resolution of neutraUty in
the war between Brazil and Germany.
Cardoso,
[* The Chilian papers ol December 7 contained the following :
The Ministry lor Foreign Affairs has sent the Ministry ol the Interior
the folowing note :
Notified of the state of war between Germany and Brazil, this Ministry
has declared the resolution of the Government to maintain its neutrality
in this conflict.
I inform you ol this lor your inlormalion, and in order that for all
consequent effects, the instructions of this Department with regard to
the observance ol our neutrality may be extended to the war between
Germany and Brazil,
Eduardo Suarez Muiica.}
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 105
NOTE FROM THE CHILIAN LEGATION PREVIOUSLY
SENT TO THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
[Text in Spanish.]
Chilian Legation, Rio de Janeiro,
October 30, 191 7.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your
Excellency's circular note No. 39, in which Your Excellency
was good enough to inform me that a BraziUan ship having
been torpedoed again by a German submarine and her captain
having been taken prisoner, the President of the Republic has
just sanctioned a law which, together with recognizing and
proclaiming the state of war initiated by Germany against
Brazil, authorizes His Excellency to take measures of open
belligerency.
In thanking Your Excellency for this kind communication
— ^which I transmitted to my Government to-day — permit me
to inform Your Excellency that Chile, influenced by the senti-
ments of close friendship and solidarity which have always
united her to Brazil, follows with the most lively interest the
course of events which unfortunately have reached the normal
and painstaking path of our sister RepubUc, and which are a
further result of the deplorable happenings since the beginning
of this war, making more and more difficult the life of peaceful
nations which honourably exert themselves to maintain the
rights inherent to their sovereignty and neutrality.
I avail myself of the opportunity to renew to Your Excellency
the assurance of my highest and distinguished consideration.
A. Irarrazaval.
His Excellency y Dr. Nilo Peganha,
Minister for Foreign AflEairs of Brazil Itamaraty.
106 THlB BRAZILIAN 6REm WOK
RUPTURE OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN
THE REPUBLIC OF ECUADOR AND THE GERMAN
EMPIRE
NOTE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF ECUADOR TO
THAT OF BRAZIL BY TELEGRAPH
[Text in Spanish.]
Quito, December 9, 19 17.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro.
I must inform Your Excellency that the suspension
of diplomatic relations in which Ecuador stood with regard to
Germany not having been rightly interpreted, which has pro-
voked incorrect acts on the part of the supposed representative
of that Empire in Ecuador, the Ecuatorian Government has
found itself forced for national dignity to declare broken off
its relations with the German Government.
I offer Your Excellency the assurance of my high consideration.
Tobar y Borgono.
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
NOTE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF BRAZIL TO
THAT OF ECUADOR BY TELEGRAPH
December 12, 19 17
His Excellency, M. Tobar y Borgono, Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Quito.
The President of the Republic, to whom I communi-
cated the important resolution of the Government of Ecuador,
offers that noble Republic Brazil's most cordial congratulations.
Your Excellency can well understand our emotion on seeing
Ecuador take her place among the people devoted to the
American cause precisely at the moment when the position of
the Allied arms seems most critical.
The Nations of the New World which have not uttered
opinions on the European struggle to contest territory or markets,
to avenge old wrongs, or to set up governments which only
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 107
the nations concerned have the right to choose, but which are
being drawn into it to defend their flags and the fundamental
principles of the independence of peoples, we have firm confidence
not only that the sea must be restored to the free commerce
of Nations, the economic aspects of the war being solved in
that sense, but also that there will not be, in the end, any senti-
ments in America more prevalent than the immanent and
sacred sentiments of the harmony, preservation, and political
unity of this continent.
Please accept. Your Excellency, with my congratulations,
the good wishes of the Brazilian people for the lasting prosperity
of Ecuador and her enlightened Government.
Nilo Peganha,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
THE ANNULLING OF THE BRAZILIAN EXEQUATUR
OF ALL FOREIGN CONSULS OF GERMAN
NATIONALITY
DECREE NO. 12,766 OF DECEMBER 21, 1917.
Annuls the exequatur of all foreign Consuls of German nationality.
The President of the Republic of the United States of Brazil :
Whereas the state of war existing between Brazil and the
German Empire forces the Brazilian Government to take
measures of convenience and precaution simultaneously with
other measures of vigilance and public safety with reference
to the continuance of German subjects within its territory ;
And whereas these measures cannot but be of a general char-
acter, and, restraining the liberty of action of the said subjects,
forbid them naturally from exercising the least authority in
any national or foreign position within the limits of Brazilian
jurisdiction ;
And whereas it is not possible to exempt from those measures
German subjects who up to the present exercised consular
functions in Brazil on behalf of other friendly nations ;
And whereas the exequatur granted to them was obtained
under normal conditions and without taking into account the
108 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
nationality of each of them, and cannot be maintained since
the German consular agents have become incompatible with
the state of war between Brazil and their country by reason
of the local ascendancy and prerogatives which come from the
very nature of the charges which they fulfil ;
And whereas, finally, the urgency of the case does not allow
the Brazilian Government to wait any longer for the measures
which it asked of the friendly Governments in the sense that
they should exonerate the consular agents in question, measures
which, moreover, it believes would not be refused :
Decrees :
The exequatur granted to the nominations of German subjects
to exercise the charge of Consul for any foreign Governments
in Brazil is annulled.
Rio de Janeiro. December 21, 1917. 96th of Independence
and 29th of the Republic.
Wenceslau Braz p. Gomes.
Nilo Peganha.
THE PRACTICAL EXPRESSION OF BRAZIL'S CO^
OPERATION IN THE WAR OF THE ALLIED
POWERS AGAINST GERMANY
COMMUNICATION FROM THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION
IN LONDON TO THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS.
{Telegram dated December 21, 1917.)
London, December 21, 1917. No. 228.
In reply to your 220. A Note from the Foreign Office dated
21 requests me to send Your Excellency sincere thanks for
the practical expression of Brazil's solidarity with the Allied
Powers, and, in the name of the British Admiralty, asks whether
we can send a fleet of light cruisers and destroyers to co-operaie
in . . . with the Allied fleet under the command of the British
Vice-Admiral there. The Admiralty will supply coal, provisions
and repairs in return for payment.
Fontoura,
I
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 109
REPLY OF THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
TO THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION IN LONDON.
(Telegram dated December 31, 1917.)
Brazilian Minister, London. No. 230.
In reply to your 228, Your Excellency may inform
the Admiralty that the Federal Government, fulfilling its duty
of giving a practical expression of Brazil's solidarity with the
Allied Nations, has ordered a fleet to make ready, composed of
the scouts Rio Grande do Sul and Bahia and the destroyers
Parahyba, Rio Grande do Norte, Piauhy, and Santa Catharina,
which will leave to take part in the operations, under the orders
of the Single Naval Command in the port allotted to it.
The ships are getting ready, and should arrive in European
waters on the . . . next.
I should also inform Your Excellency that the Minister of
the Navy stated to the President of the Republic that the
Brazilian Navy received without hesitation and, indeed, with
enthusiasm the order to leave for the seat of war.
Nilo Peganha.
NOTE FROM THE BRITISH LEGATION TO THE
BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
(Translation.)
British Legation, Petropolis. No. 13.
January 12, 19 18.
Monsieur le Ministre,
Having been assured in my last interview with Your
Excellency, on the 3rd instant, that the President of the Republic
greatly appreciated the expressions of sympathy manifested
by my August Sovereign, during the audience granted a short
time ago to the Brazilian Minister at the British Court, with
regard to the co-operation of the Government of this Republic
in the air service of the war, I have the honour to inform Your
Excellency that, in compliance with your request, I inquired
whether ten aviators might leave for Britain.
110 TEE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
Having regard to the pre-eminent position which, from the
beginning, your country has held among the nations that
cultivate thq modem science of aviation, I am authorized to
inform Your Excellency, which I do with the greatest satis-
faction, that His Majesty's Government will have particular
pleasure in accepting the services of ten representatives of so
distinguished a body as that of Brazilian aviators, and I am
instructed furthermore to ask you to let me have as soon as
possible the names of these gentlemen, the date of their departure
from Brazil, and, approximately, that of their arrival in Great
Britain.
I think I may take this opportunity to say that I feel sure
that this decision will greatly please the President of the Republic
of Brazil, not only because this signifies the value which His
Majesty's Government attributes to Brazil's co-operation in
the present great world struggle to safeguard the principles of
liberty, humanity, and civilization, but also because it shows
the sentiments of deep friendship which have always united
our countries, and which could not be more efficaciously conse-
crated than by our present circumstances, fighting by the side
of each other in defence of the noblest of all causes.
It will not be in aviation alone that we will co-operate, since
I am informed by a telegram from the Admiralty that the
Brazilian Government has been invited to send a naval force
of light cruisers and destroyers to co-operate with the Allied
squadrons stationed at . . . and Your Excellency has informed
me that the Brazilian Government has accepted this invitation.
While congratulating myself with Your Excellency on our
confraternity of arms, which we shall always recall with pride,
allow me to repeat the words of my Sovereign in his last message
to the President :
" The adhesion of your great country to the cause of justice
will hasten the day of final victory."
I avail myself of this opportunity, Monsieur le Ministre,
to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest
consideration.
Arthur Peel.
His Excellency, Dr. Nilo Peganha, etc., etc., etc.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 111
NOTE FROM THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT TO THE
BRITISH LEGATION IN REPLY TO THE ABOVE
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Directorate-General of Political
AND Diplomatic Affairs, Section of Europe, Asia, Africa, and
Oceania. No. 6.
Rio de Janeiro, January 22, 1918.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I brought without delay, as was my duty, to the
knowledge of the President of the Republic the cordial expres-
sions in the note which Your Excellency sent me on the 12th
of this month, and the pleasing information therein that the
Government of His Britannic Majesty would welcome the visit
to Britain of ten naval officers for aviation service in the
war.
Your Excellency was not mistaken when you expressed, in
that note, your assurance of the extreme pleasure which the
decision taken by the British Government would cause the
President of the Republic ; for the sentiments of cordiaHty
expressed by a great traditional friend of Brazil, as your great
country has always been, can never be indifferent not only to
him as the First Magistrate of the Nation, but also to the
BraziUan people.
In the present armed struggle, small contributions are not
to be despised ; for they represent a material protest against
the violent means practised by the enemy, subversive of the
universally recognized principles of Right, Justice, and Humanity;
and a portion which, according to its degree, will increase that
formidable united and vigorous force which is opposed to these
violences, with the object of establishing a lasting peace on
earth.
It is, therefore, in the name of the President of the Republic,
and with the request that you will bring it to the august notice
of His Britannic Majesty, that I have the honour to thank
Your Excellency extremely for the decision of your Government
and to inform you that BraziUan co-operation, with the British
Forces, of a squadron of light cruisers and destroyers and of a
group of aviators from the Naval Aviation Corps, represents
the contribution of a sincere ally, and will give occasion for
Brazilians, EngUshmen, and Allies, already closely united in
manifestations of peaceful activity, to co-operate under the
shadow of our flags in the violent struggles on the field of
battle.
112 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
I will send Your Excellency in another note the information
you require with regard to the Brazihan aviators.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency,
Monsieur le Ministre, the assurance of my highest consideration.
Nilo Peganha,
His Excellency, Arthur Robert Peel,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of His Britannic Majesty.
NOTE FROM THE BRITISH LEGATION TO THE
BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
(Translation.)
British Legation, Petropolis. No. 25.
February 11, 191 8.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency in confi-
dence that the British Admiralty has decided that the units
of the Brazilian Navy which are to co-operate with the British
naval forces, would do better service to the AlUed cause by
going to . . . and operating from that base, under the command
of the Superior British Officer, in conjunction with the units
of the United States Navy, which are also stationed in that
port.
I hope that this decision will be agreeable to the BraziUan
Government, and that the units of the BraziUan and North
American Navies will co-operate in a friendly spirit with the
British naval forces for the maintenance and protection of the
vital maritime routes between the continents of Europe and
America.
I avail myself of the opportunity to renew to Your Excellency
the assurance of my highest esteem and consideration.
Arthur Peel,
His Excellency, Dr. Nilo Peganha^, etc., etc.,, etc,
Rio de Janeiro.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 113
REPLY OF THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT TO THE
COMMUNICATION OF A STATE OF WAR BETWEEN
BRAZIL AND GERMANY
NOTE FROM THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT TO
THE BRAZILIAN LEGATION IN BUENOS AIRES
[Text in Spanish.]
Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Public Worship.
Buenos Aires, February i, 1918.
Monsieur le Ministre,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your
Excellency's note informing this Government of the declaration
of war of the United States of Brazil on the German Empire.
The Argentine Government deeply affected by the causes
which have determined it, which they have followed in all
their phases, appreciate this just determination in its high
significance in face of the fundamental principle which charac-
terizes the honour and sovereignty of Nations.
With these opinions, I renew to the great Brazilian Nation
and her Government the admiration and good wishes of the
Argentine Nation and Government.
I offer Your Excellency the assurance of my riiost distinguished
consideration.
Pueyrredon.
His Excellency, Dr. Alcihiades Pe^anha,
Envoy Extraordinaty and Minister Plenipotentiary
ol Brazil.
114 THE BBAZtLlAN GREEN BOOK
ADMISSION OF STUDENTS FROM THE OTHER
AMERICAN REPUBLICS TO THE MILITARY AND
NAVAL COLLEGES AND ACADEMIES OF BRAZIL
NOTE FROM THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
TO THAT OF WAR
Protocol Section, No. 3, Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
February 4, 191 8.
Monsieur le Ministre,
In the development of the policy of American frater-
nity, towards which we are working in this Government, the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs has the honour to suggest to the
Ministry of War and the Ministry of the Navy the permanent
arrangement for the enrolment in the Military School and the
Naval School of scholars, cadets, or students from the other
Republics of this continent who have requested this through
their respective Governments.
The measure which, in accordance with the views of the
President of the Republic, I now submit for Your Excellency's
examination and approval will surely bring the advantage of
reciprocity ; but whether this is the case or not, what we
American Nations, who are just outhning the improvements in
our War Fleet and improving our Army, desire is to show to
the world the peoples of this Continent learning to love and
defend its inviolability and independence in the surroundings
of peace and common interests.
I am about to make known through our representatives in
the other Republics of America, that the Government through
the Ministry of Justice, following what was done a long time
ago with respect to the obligatory study of English, is beginning
this year, in its principal teaching establishment — the College
of Pedro II — a course of Spanish and of Hispano-American
literature, free admittance to the lists in our Academies being
granted to all young men of the other Republics who have
passed their official courses of instruction.
The notion of the President of the Republic in co-operating
to bring about the development of this policy of American
formation and solidarity in letters and arms, will bear witness
to the generations who will have to-morrow the responsibility
of the Government of America, that the generations of to-day
knew how to maintain it in face of the greatest war of history.
I^n^ BRAZILIAN aniEEN BOOK 115
and that in this way it will be maintained always as a shelter
for men and ideas endangered at any time in the struggles of
the Old World.
I have the honour to reiterate to Your Excellency the assur-
ance of my high esteem and most distinguished consideration.
Nilo Peganha.
His Excellency, Marshal Josi Caetano de Parian
Minister of State for War AfiEairs.
In the same terms mutatis mutandis and on the same date
another note was sent to the Ministry of the Navy under No. 9.
The Ministers of War and the Navy agreed to the suggested
measure in the above transcribed note from the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs, and declared that their schools would be opened
to further hsts under the indicated conditions.
In accordance with these replies the necessary communications
were made to our Legations in America and to the Legations
of the American Nations in this city.
PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC COM-
MITTEE AT PARIS
TELEGRAM FROM OUR LEGATION IN PARIS TO
THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
January 21, 19 18.
The Minister of Blockade begs me in a note to request
the Brazilian Government to send one or two Delegates from
Brazil to take part in the labours of the Permanent Inter-
national Economic Committee at Paris created by the First
Inter-Allied Conference of March 1916.
Olyntho de Magalhaes.
TELEGRAM FROM THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
TO OUR LEGATION IN PARIS
January 26, 1918.
The Government would be glad if Your Excellency would
continue to represent Brazil in the Inter-Allied Congresses or
Committees held there.
Nilo Beganha,
116 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOR
TELEGRAM FROM OUR LEGATION IN PARIS TO
THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
February 23, 191 8.
I took part to-day in the first deliberations of the Permanent
International Economic Committee, as the Brazilian Delegate,
and was welcomed very cordially by the President, whom I
thanked.
I beg Your Excellency will be good enough to inform me,
so that I may answer the Secretariat General of the Committee,
of all the measures taken by our Government with reference
to the prohibition of the exports of good, of the list of contra-
band of war, and other prohibitions placed upon the enemy.
Olyntho de Magalhaes,
TELEGRAM FROM THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT
TO OUR LEGATION IN PARIS
February 26, 19 18.
Your Excellency may tell the Committee that our war legis-
lation prohibits the Germans all foreign commerce, either by
import or export ; Brazilian ships do not carry enemy cargo ;
the Custom House takes over all goods of enemy destination
carried in neutral ships. The law also forbids the dispatch of
funds abroad, and cancels all contracts concluded with Germans
for public works and services ; and, also, with respect to the
future of the country, forbids the grant of territory to them,
as well as other measures of reprisal and national defence.
As Your Excellency sees, our war legislation follows the
general lines of the legislation of other countries, save that
Brazil has not confiscated enemy property nor taken over
German internal trade, which is also maintained in the United
States, and which, if we suppressed it here, would oblige us to
feed and clothe thousands of men, besides those who already
are causing us expense in the concentration camps of Friburgo
and Iguassu.
Nilo Peganha.
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 117
PEACE PROPOSAL OF HIS HOLINESS POPE
BENEDICT XV
ORIGINAL OF THE PROPOSAL SENT TO HIS
EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
\Text in French.]
To THE Heads of the Belligerent Peoples,
Since the beginning of our Pontificate, amid the
horrors of the terrible war let loose on Europe, we have kept
in mind three things above all : to maintain perfect impar-
tiality towards all the belligerents, as becomes him who is the
common father and who loves with equal affection all his
children ; to strive constantly to do all the greatest possible
good, without exception of persons, without distinction of
nationality or reUgion, as is enjoined upon us both by the
Universal Law of charity and by the supreme spiritual charge
confided to us by Christ ; finally, as our pacifying mission
equally requires, to omit nothing, as far as might be in our
power, that could help to hasten the end of this calamity, by
essaying to bring the peoples and their Heads to more moderate
coiinsels, and to the serene deliberations of peace — a peace
** just and lasting."
Whoever has followed our work during the three sad years
just elapsed has been able easily to recognize that, if we have
been ever-faithful to our resolve of absolute impartiaUty and
to our beneficent action, we have never ceased to exhort the
belligerent peoples and Governments to resume their brother-
hood, even though all that we have done to achieve this most
noble aim has not been made public.
Towards the end of the first year of the war we addressed
to the nations in conflict the Hveliest exhortations, and pointed
out, moreover, the path along which a peace, stable and honour-
able for all, might be attained. Unfortunately our appeal was
not heeded, and the war went on desperately, with all its horrors,
for another two years ; it even became more cruel, and spread
on land, on sea — ^nay, in the very air ; upon defenceless cities,
quiet villages, and their innocent inhabitants, desolation and
deaXh were seen to fall. And now none can imagine how tjie
118 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
sufferings of all would be increased and intensified were yet
other months, or, still worse, other years, added to this bloody
triennium. Shall then the civilized world be naught but a
field of death ? And shall Europe, so glorious and flourishing,
rush, as though driven by universal madness, towards the
abyss, and lend her hand to her own suicide ?
In a situation so fraught with anguish, in the presence of so
grave a peril, we, who have no special poUtical aim, who heed
neither the suggestions nor the interests of either of the bel-
ligerent parties, but are impelled solely by the feeUng of our
supreme duty as the common father of the faithful, by the
prayers of our children, who implore from us intervention and a
word of peace ; by the very voice of humanity and of reason, we
raise again a cry of peace, and renew a pressing appeal to those
in whose hands lie the destinies of nations. But in order no
longer to confine ourselves to general terms, such as were coun-
selled by circumstances in the past, we desire now to come down
to more concrete and practical proposals, and to invite the
Governments of the belligerent peoples to agree upon the follow-
ing points, which seem as though they ought to be the bases
of a just and lasting peace, leaving to their charge the comple-
tion and the more precise definition of those points.
First, the fundamental point should be that the moral force
of right should replace the material force of arms ; hence a
just agreement between all for the simultaneous and reciprocal
diminution of armaments, according to rules and guarantees
to be estabHshed, to the extent necessary and sufficient for
the maintenance of public order in each State ; then, in the
place of armies, the establishment of arbitration with its exalted
pacifying function, on lines to be concerted and with sanctions
to be settled against any State that should refuse either to submit
international questions to arbitration or to accept its awards.
The supremacy of right once established, let every obstacle
be removed from the channels of communication between
peoples, by ensuring, under rules likewise to be laid down, the
true freedom and common enjoyment of the seas. This would,
on the one hand, remove manifold causes of conflict, and would
open, on the other, fresh sources of prosperity and progress
to aU.
As to the reparation of damage and to the costs of war, we
see no way to solve the question save by laying down as a
general principle, complete and reciprocal condonation, which
would, moreover, be justified by the immense benefits that
would accrue froni disannan^ent ; £^11 the more, since tl^e con-
TEE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 119
tinuation of such carnage solely for economic reasons would
be incomprehensible. If, in certain cases, there exists, never-
theless, special reasons, let them be weighed with justice and
equity.
But these pacific agreements, with the immense advantages
they entail, are impossible without the reciprocal restitution
of territories now occupied. Consequently on the part of
Germany there must be the complete evacuation of Belgium,
with a guarantee of her full poHtical, miUtary, and economic
independence towards all Powers whatsoever ; likewise the
evacuation of French territory. On the part of the other
belligerent parties, there must be a similar restitution of the
German colonies.
As regards territorial questions like those at issue between
Italy and Austria, and between Germany and France, there is
reason to hope that in consideration of the immense advan-
tages of a lasting peace with disarmament, the parties in conflict
will examine them in a conciliatory spirit, taking account, in
the measure of what is just and possible, as we have before said,
of the aspirations of the peoples and, as occasion may offer,
co-ordinating particular interests with the general weal of the
great human society.
The same spirit of equity and justice must reign in the study
of the other territorial and political questions, notably those
relating to Armenia, the Balkan States, and to the territories
forming part of the ancient Kingdom of Poland, to which, in
particular, its noble historical traditions and the sufferings
endured, especially during the present war, ought justly to
assure the sympathies of nations.
Such are the principal bases upon which we beUeve the
future reorganization of peoples should be founded. They are
such as to render impossible a return of similar conflicts, and
to prepare the solution of the economic question, so important
for the future and the material welfare of all the belligerent
States. Therefore, in laying them before you, who guide at
this tragic hour the destinies of the beUigerent nations, we are
inspired by a sweet hope — the hope of seeing them accepted,
and thus of seeing ended at the earUest moment the terrible
struggle that appears increasingly a useless massacre. Every
one recognizes, moreover, that on the one side and on the
other, the honour of arms is safe. Lend, therefore, your ear
to our prayer, accept the paternal invitation that we address
to you in the name of the Divine Redeemer, the Prince of Peace.
Think of your very heavy responsibiUty before God and men ;
120 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
upon your resolves depend the repose and the joy of innumerable
famiHes, the life of thousands of youths, in a word, the happiness
of the peoples to whom it is your absolute duty to assure these
boons. May the Lord inspire in you decisions in accord with
His most holy will. May Heaven grant that, in deserving the
plaudits of your contemporaries, you will gain also for your-
selves the name of peacemakers among future generations.
As for us, closely united in prayer and penitence with all
faithful souls who sigh for peace, we pray that the Divine Spirit
grant you light and counsel.
(L.S.) Benedictus XV.
From the Vatican, August i, 191 7.
BRAZIL'S REPLY TO HIS HOLINESS'S LETTER,
THROUGH OUR LEGATION AT THE VATICAN
November 13, 191 7.
Brazilian Minister, Rome.
Your Excellency will say in your note to His Holiness that
the President of the Republic had not authorized you before
to reply to his proposal of peace for the reason that it is not
until the present moment that Brazil has found herself in a
state of war.
Brazil is a nation that has never embarked upon a war of
conquest ; which has written down compulsory arbitration as
one of the articles of its Republican Constitution for the settle-
ment of foreign disagreements ; which has endured no sufferings
in the past, and has therefore no vengeance to seek in the present ;
which has quietly settled all its boundary questions, knowing
what belongs to it as its own property and recognizing the
exact possible extension of its territory, which is great already,
and keeps growing greater, thanks not only to the work of its
citizens, who are anxious to prove that they deserve the honour
of possessing so rich an inheritance, but also thanks to the
work of those foreigners whom our hospitable shores soon
make as true Brazilians as ourselves. Brazil, Your Excellency
can tell His Holiness, would have kept apart from the European
war, in spite of the sympathy of public opinion here for the
cause of freedom of the Allies, had not Germany extended to
America her violent acts of war, hindering the commerce of
all neutral nations with the outside world.
Brazil coiild not fail in her obvious duty gs an An^erican
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK 121
Nation ; and in taking up, as a last resort, the position of a
belligerent, we have done so without hatred or interest, but
solely for the defence of our flag and the fundamental rights
of our Fatherland ; happily, to-day all the RepubUcs of the
New World, some more injured than others, but all threatened
in their liberty and their sovereign rights, have drawn more
closely together the bonds of a solidarity that was already
geographical, economic, and historical, and which the senti-
ment of common defence and of national independence is making
political.
Brazil, therefore, cannot to-day take up an attitude of
isolation, nor can she speak as an individual, seeing the solidar-
ity that ought to exist, and does exist, between her and the
nations to whom she has joined herself.
Nevertheless, there was not a Brazilian heart that did not
hear with the liveliest emotion the eloquent appeal of His
Holiness asking the belligerent nations for peace in the name
of God. Although Brazil, in her State capacity, cannot be
considered as the seat of any one form of religion, seeing that
all religions there are free and protected, none the less it can
claim to be the third Catholic nation in the world, and to have
had uninterrupted relations almost for centuries with the
government of the Church. Brazil recognizes the generous
feelings that prompted the appeal of His Holiness when he
demanded, " together with disarmament and arbitration, the
setting up of a regime in which the material force of armies
should be replaced by the moral force of justice, when once the
territorial claims of France and Italy had been arranged, and
due consideration paid to the problems of the Balkans and
the restoration of Polish liberty."
It is for the peoples who are most directly concerned in these
questions to say whether the honour of their arms is already
satisfied in this war, or whether the suggested changes in the
political map of Europe can assure them peace so long as the
political and military organization remains in power, which
has everywhere abrogated the laws of justice, brought to nothing
those advances that the spirit of humanity had deemed lasting
for the alleviation of the cruelties of war, and destroyed everyr
thing that Christian feeling had given to the fellowship of
nations.
It is for them alone to say whether, now that all trust in
treaties and international loyalty is gone, there will be a force,
if not a new spirit, capable of making a secure peace, unless
from the disillusions, sufferings, and misfortunes of this war
122 THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
there may, perhaps, arise a better world bom, it would seem,
of liberty itself.
Only thus can we hope to establish a durable peace without
poUtical or economic restrictions, so that all the nations, great
or small, should have their place in the sun, with equal rights
of exchanging their ideas, exchanging their work and their
merchandise, on the wide basis of justice and equity.
Please present to His Holiness the assurance of the profound
veneration of the President of the Republic.
Nilo Peganha,
The terms of this reply were confirmed in a letter from the
Chancery, subsequently sent by the President of the Republic
directly to His Holiness.
INDEX OF NAMES
Aguero, E. de la Riva,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Peru, June 191 7
Alcorforado, Alfredo Carlos,
Brazilian Minister to Cuba
DE Alencar, Augusto C,
Brazilian Minister to Peru
Alvarado, Juan,
Spanish M nister of State, April
1917
Alves de Araujo, H.,
Brazilian Minister to Denmark
do Amaral, Luis G.,
Brazilian Charg6 d'AfEaires in
Chile, June 12, 1917
do Amaral, S. Gurgel,
Brazilian Minister to Germany
Andrade, Ignacio,
Minister for Foreign AflFairs,
Venezuela
DE AZEREDO, CaRLOS MAGALHAES,
Brazilian Minister to the Vatican
DE AZEVEDO, CyRO,
Brazilian Minister to Uruguay
Barthou, Louis,
French Minister for Foreign
Affairs, November 191 7
Benedictus XV,
Pope
Benson, Alexander,
United States Charg6 d 'Affaires
in Brazil, February 5
Bernardez, Manuel,
Uruguayan Minister tp Brazil
Bezerra Calvacanti, Josfi Ru-
FINO,
Minister of Agriculture, Brazil,
resigned 191 7
BoRGEs, Cesar,
Brazilian Charg6 d'AfEaires in
Norway
Braz, Wenceslau Braz P.
Gomes,
President of the Republic of the
United States of Brazil, 19 14-
18
Brum, Baltazar,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Uruguay
Caetano DE Faria, Marshal JosI;,
Brazilian Minister of War Affairs
Cardoso,
Brazilian Minister to Chile
Cardoso de Oliveira, Jose
Manuel,
Brazilian Minister to Paraguay
Carlos Ribeiro de Andrada,
Antonio,
Brazilian Minister of Finance
Carrasco, Jos^,
Bolivian Minister in Brazil
DE Carvalho, Frederic© Af-
FONSO,
Acting Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Brazil, August 19 14
Cecil, Lord Robert,
British Minister of Block?idf
m
124
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
Chatelain,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Haiti, June 191 7
Chermont, E. L.,
Brazilian Minister to Japan
Claudel, p.
French Minister to Brazil
da Cunha, Gastao,
Brazilian Ambassador to Por-
tugal
Acting Minister for Foreign
Affairs, March 19 16
Dantas, L. M. de Souza,
Acting Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Brazil, August 1916
Desvernine, Pablo,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Cuba
DupuY, E.,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Haiti, July 1917
Faria de Alencar, Admiral
Alexandrino,
Brazilian Minister of the Navy
Fernandes Pinheiro, LL.,
Director-General of Economic
and Consular Affairs, Min-
istry for Foreign Affairs, Brazil
DA Fonseca, Marshal Hermes R.,
President of the Republic of the
United States of Brazil, 1910-
14
da Fontoura Xavier, Antonio,
Brazilian Minister to Great
Britain
DA Gama, Domicio,
Brazilian Ambassador to the
United States
Gasparri, p. Cardinal,
Secretary of State to the Holy
See
Garay, Narciso,
Secretary fqr ^''oreign Affairs,
Panaraii
Gomes, Wenceslau Braz P.
Gomes, see Braz
GONDRA, M.
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Paraguay
HUIDOBRO, A.,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Chile, June 191 7
Ihlen,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Norway
Irarrazaval, a.,
Chilian Minister to Brazil
Kelsch, G. de Vianna,
Brazilian Charge d'Affaires in
Russia, June 11, 191 7
DE Lara, Carlos,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Costa Rica
DE Lima e Silva, Rinaldo,
Brazilian Minister to Bolivia
LoRETi DA Silva Lima, Jarbas,
BraziUan Chargd d'Affaires in
Ecuador, June 191 7
Loudon,
Dutch Minister for Foreign
Affairs
Machado, Bernardino,
President of the Portuguese Re-
pubUc : exiled after the Revo-
lution of December 191 7
DE Magalhaes, Olyntho,
Brazilian Minister to France
Maximiliano Pereira DOS Santos,
Carlos,
Brazilian Minister of Interior
Mezera, Rodolfo,
Minister of Justice and Public
Instruction, Uruguay
Morgan, Edwin Vernon,
United States Ambassador to
frazil
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
125
MoTONO, Viscount Itchiro,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Japan
MuLLER, Lauro, General,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Brazil : succeeded Rio Branco
resigned May 3, 1917 : suc-
ceeded by Nilo Pe9anha
Obermijller, Louis Jean Charles
VON Zeppelin,
Dutch Minister in Brazil
PandiX Calogeras, Joao.
Brazilian Minister of Finance :
resigned September 191 7 : suc-
ceeded by Antonio Carlos
Fault, A.,
German Minister to Brazil
PK9ANHA, Alcibiades,
Bra?;ilian Minister to Spain,
April 29, 1917
Transferred to Argentina, June
1917
Pe^anha, Nilo,
Brazilian Minister for Foreign
Affairs : succeeded Lauro
Miiller May 5, 191 7
Peel, Sir Arthur Robert,
K.C.MG.,
British Minister to Brazil
PoincarjS, Raymond,
President of the French Republic
Polk, Frank L,
Acting United States Secretary
of State, June 16, 191 7
Pueyrredon, Honorio,
Acting Minister for Foreign
Affairs : actually holding the
portfolio of Agriculture, Argen-
tina
Ramos, Eduardo,
Brazilian Charg6 d Affaires in
Argentina, June 11, 191 7
Ribot, Alexandre,
French Minister for Foreign
Affairs, September 191 7
Rivas, Santiago,
Minister of Public Works, Uru-
guay
de Rostaing Lisboa, Carlos,
Ad interim Brazilian Charg6
d 'Affaires in Venezuela
SXnchez, Placido,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
BoUvia, June 191 7
Sanchez Fuentes, A
Ad interim Charg6 d' Affaires oi
Mexico in Brazil, June 1917
ScAVENius, Erik,
Minister for Foreign Affairs*
Denmark
Serrate, Luis Toledo.
Guatemala Minster for Foreign
Affairs
Scares. Augusto,
Portuguese Minister for Foreign
Affairs, June 191 7
SoNNiNo, Baron Sidney,
Italian Minister for Foreign
Affairs
SuAREZ, Marco Fidel,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Colombia
SuAREZ MujicA, Eduardo,
Chilian Minister for Foreign
Affairs in the Yanez Cabinet,
1917
Tavares de Lyra, Augusto
Brazilian Minister of Commerce
and Public Works
Terestchenko, Michel,
Minister for Foreign Affairs in the
Russian Provisional Govern-
ment
ToBAR y Borgono, Carlos,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Ecuador
Toledo, Pedro de,
Brazilian Minister to Italy
126
THE BRAZILIAN GREEN BOOK
TUDELA Y VaRELA, FrANCISCO,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Pern, October 19 17
Urtecho, J. A.,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Nicaragua
Varzi, Pablo,
Minister of the Interior, Uruguay
Vasquez, Marino,
Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Honduras
ViDIELLA, FeDERICO R.,
Minister of Finance, Uruguay
Viera, Francisco,
President of Uruguay, elected
1915
Whitmarsh, Calixto,
Cuban Charge d'Affaires ad in-
terim in Brazi!
Wilson, Woodrow,
President of the United States
of America. 1912-20
ZlMMERMANN, A.,
Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, German Empire, Feb-
ruary 19 1 7
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