AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Photo jrom J. H. Bruins. THE RATHAUS TOWER, TALLINN, ESTHONIA Vol. IV DECEMBER, 1927 No. 12 The Car for Today—and Tomorrow Dodge Brothers Four supports the contention of lead¬ ing automotive engineers that the car of the future will be comparatively light and of medium wheelbase. For it will travel rough roads with greater comfort than other cars of its weight, and forge its way through traffic as no larger car can do with safety. Dodge Brothers motor has always been noted for economy of fuel and oil but in this new Four with the famous “124” motor, oil economy is made more cer¬ tain by an improved lubrication system and gasoline consumption is reduced one fifth. DODGE- BRDTHE-R5, INC. DETROIT, U. 5. A. DODGE- BROTHERS MOTOR CARS FOREIGN S JOURNAL PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION VOL. IV, No. 12 WASHINGTON, D. C. DECEMBER, 1927 American Consulate General at Rio de Janeiro By CONSUL DIGBY A. WILLSON, Bristol From the Brasilian American AN AMERICAN consular office has been assistant formerly with the Consulate General established in Brazil for 118 years. This at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in his book entitled fact was ascertained by the writer from “The Diplomatic Relations of the United States an exhaustive search of the Embassy and Con¬ and Brazil,” the first diplomatic relations between sulate records. It reflects the democratic sym¬ the two coutries were not, as in the case of pathies and the Pan-American policy of the the other Latin American countries, with a revo¬ Jefferson administration. When President Mon¬ lutionary junta or national government, but roe, in the fall of 1823, consulted Thomas Jef¬ with the Portuguese Court, which resided at ferson with regard to what is now known as Rio de Janeiro from 1808 to 1821. The transfer the Monroe Doctrine, the ex-President replied : of the seat of government from Lisbon (Portu¬ “The question presented by the letters you gal) to the established colony was purely a mat¬ have sent me is the most momentous which ter of emergency, carried out under the pres¬ has ever been offered to my contemplation since sure of the Napoleonic invasion of the Peninsula. that of independence. That made us a nation, In this connection, it will be recalled that this sets our compass and points the course Napoleon deposed the Braganca dynasty because which we are to steer through the ocean of of the Prince Regent’s reluctance to participate time opening on us. And never could we em¬ in the Gontinental System. Junot was sent to bark upon it under circumstances more aus¬ Lisbon with a small army to capture the royal picious. Our first and fundamental maxim family, but arrived a few hours after the Prince should be, never to entangle ourselves in the (Joao VI) had set sail with his retinue and broils of Europe; our second, never to suffer valuables on board a vessel in the squadron of Europe to intermeddle with cisatlantic affairs.” Sir Sidney Smith. He reached Bahia (Brazil) It is thus important to observe that in appoint¬ on January 25, 1808, but continued on to Rio de ing a Consul to Brazil as early as 1808 Jeffer¬ Janeiro, regardless of the many persuasions on son showed an interest in Pan American af¬ the part of his loyal subjects at Bahia. fairs which was, partially at least, carried out FIRST CONSUL—HENRY HILL by succeeding administrations. Probably the first Consul ever to he accredited HISTORICAL BACKGROUND to Brazil was Mr. Henry Hill, who arrived at As pointed out by Mr. Joseph E. Agan, an Rio de Janeiro August 29, 1808, and delivered 377 President Jefferson’s personal letter of welcome, feel sensibly that they stand in new and closer dated May 5, 1808, to the Prince Regent. He relations with your Royal Highness, and that accomplished his mission on September 3, 1808. the motives which have heretofore nourished “Jefferson’s great intrigue,” continues Agan, the friendly relations which have so happily “for the occupation of the Floridas, the emanci¬ prevailed have acquired increased strength on pation of the Spanish American colonies, and the transfer of your residence to their shores. the foundation of a democratic American They see in prospect a system of peace and League to be opposed to autocratic Europe was happiness of mankind may be the essential prin¬ just entering upon its decisive phase, and the ciples (sic.). To this principle your long tried inclusion of Brazil in the scheme was con¬ adherence, for the benefit of those you gov¬ sidered.” erned in the midst of warring powers, is a Obviously at this time the arrival of the pledge to the New World that its peace, its free Prince Regent caused a spark of further inter¬ and friendly intercourse, will be your chief con¬ est in Washington. The following letter is a cern. On the part of the United States I as¬ copy of that which Consul Hill presented: sure you that these which have hitherto been their ruling objects, will be most particularly “Having learned the safe arrival of your cultivated with your R. H. and your subjects Royal Highness at the city of Rio de Janeiro, of Brazil, and they hope that that country so I perform with pleasure the duty of offering favored by the gifts of nature, now advanced you my sincere congratulations by Mr. Hill, a to a station under your immediate auspices will respected citizen of the United States, who is find in the interchange of mutual wants and specially charged with the delivery of this letter. supplies the true element of an enduring friend¬ I trust that this event will be propitious for the ship with the United States of America. prosperity of your faithful subjects as to the happiness of your Royal Highness, in which “I pray to God, Great and Good Prince in the United States have ever taken a lively in¬ your abode you may enjoy health, happiness and terest. Inhabitants now of the same land of the affection of your people, and that He will that great continent which the genius of Colum¬ have you always in His safe and holy keeping.” bus has given to the world, the United States There appears to be no record of a written AVENIDA NIEMEYER 378 reply from the Prince Regent, but it is ap¬ dispose of property in Brazil, under the same parent that Consul Hill received a most regal regulations as Portuguese subjects, that they welcome at the Court in Rio de Janeiro, receiv¬ would enjoy freedom of private worship, that ing from the Prince Regent a verbal expression they would have equal rights before the law with the vassals of His Royal Highness, and, of satisfaction at the attitude and friendly spirit if desired, a ‘juiz conservador’ might be ap¬ exhibited by the American President. pointed for them. Mr. Hill secured an audience through the first “The ‘juiz conservador’ was a magistrate cor¬ Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Court of responding in some measure to the consuls in Brazil, Dom Rodrigo de Sousa Coutinho, and the Orient who exercise extraterritorial judicial further treated with him regarding the status powers over their respective nationals, with the of American citizens and trade in Brazil. Im¬ difference that the ‘juiz conservador’ was a Por¬ ports from the United States, of a smuggled tuguese subject. The ‘conservatoria’ privilege character only, in 1802 amounted to $1,041, had been enjoyed for centuries by England in whereas in 1809 the total had increased to $883,- Portugal, and shortly after the transfer of the 732 United States currency. This noticeable increase in our trade resulted largely from the action of the Prince Regent in opening all ports to foreign as well as Portuguese vessels in opposition to Napoleon’s continental block¬ ade. During the first year, 1809, 90 foreign ships entered the new port at Rio de Janeiro, while many others visited the ports of Maranhao, Pernambuco and Bahia. Also, in 1810, the island of Santa Catharina was declared a free port and Ameri¬ can consuls were stationed there at least as far back as 1831, when Consul Samuel Wells was in charge. It is further inter¬ esting to note that our first treaty of commerce with Brazil was largely based on the eco¬ nomic and commercial data transmitted to the Secretary of State by Consul Hill from the Consulate at Bahia in 1809. In connection with the early commercial movement with Brazil it is of interest again to quote Agan : “In answer to a questionnaire presented by Hill regarding the status of American citizens and trade in Brazil, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dom Rodrigo de Sousa Coutinho, replied on October 4, 1808, that the United States would enjoy the most fa¬ vored nation treatment with re¬ gard to trade and navigation, that Americans might hold and PRAIA DE BOTOFAGO 379 court to Brazil, Dom Joao decreed the estab¬ Portuguese Crown. During the Colonial Regime lishment of a similar tribunal in Rio de Janeiro. Great Britain, France and the Netherlands had To its credit, however, the United States did enjoyed certain trading concessions through the not avail itself of the offer. port of Lisbon, and British merchants were “After thus defining American status in even permitted to settle in strictly limited num¬ Brazil, the Minister improved the occasion to ex¬ bers in four Brazilian cities. When the Napo¬ press once more the Prince Regent’s friendly leonic troops entered Portugal and the Emperor dispositions, and to assure Hill that His Majesty decreed the deposition of the House of Braganca, hoped that the ti'ade between the two countries Great Britain offered the Prince Regent con¬ would increase to reciprocal advantage.