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10/16/1966 - Impressions of Brazilian Attitudes to Local American Activities by Fanny Mitchell

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Recife mpress Bra zilian Atttude Pernambuco Local America Activities October Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York Dear Mr Nolte The British activity flourished World War II lasting monuments British Country Club British Cemetery Membership about coveted consequently expensive taking there still ambition certain sectors Recife society But apart cricket pitch photograph H M Queen there little betray origins Western Telegraph Company Bank London South America couple permanent representatives together British firms 8ncetp local firms small huddle Sunday afternoons drinking rather strong Indian They still regard Club their mingle little smart Brazilian members weight numbers taken presidenc years During flecon World War picture changed Large numbers American force stationed Recife airport became important staging Atlantic whilst British trickled never eturn But American invasion temporary forewarning Deep interest North East Brazil shown after years isolated instahces support mainly financial Brazilian Point Four programme Export Import Bank other development organisations Alarm situation Cuba consequent interest Latin America suddenly focussed North East Brazil publicity given Juliao Peasant Leagues This erupted Sust Alliance Progress immmae after number level visits between United States Brazil ambitious programme North Esat launched which despite downs political situation still force Arriving nearly years after initiation I astounded impact Americans The winged Alliance evident goods ranging ambulances factories USAID affected directly indirectly lives people North East Not itself American influence industry technology education culture almost everything except ideals seeped permeated North East The Kennedy still alive Part charismatic appeal beaiueto kimwilyreporte ability personal charm probably first effectively championed North East bringing progrannne Although Brazilians perhaps Brazilians cynical about motivation behind sudden interest influx financial personal Kennedy himself remains intact The manifests itself clearly infrastructure Almost building machinery appears States primary schools being built American money The Paulo Afonso hydro electric project received large contributions Washington programme eradication malaria largely financed States advisers echnicians almost walks Brazilians Privately owned machinery mainly American consumer durables mostly American manufactured Brazil usually Americau parent American films shown cinemas outnumber Brazilian American songs dominate radio programmes A crude distinction drawn between official independent American activities The former carried primarily through USAID Alliance Progress through Peace Corps whose volunteers almost equally widespread though thinner ground Of unofficial influences important influx private industry which sprouted great continuing success although considerable amount conspicuous being carried interior various missionary bodies Finally American influence being spread private technicians academics invited result increasing number trips Brazilians United States With weler American activities intricate American Brazilian relations result would impossible describe these relationships objective accuracy Nevertheless mixture first observations stated viewpoints Brazilian acquaintances subject outlining situation which undisputable importance countries It seems situation altogether happy tension never beneath surface But object receive gratitude donor country would expect The relation between countries fsals delicate country likes position where least morally indebted another T accept accept unsolicited patronisation certain obligations donor country arise which would otherwise But country desperately money techcal North East Brazil years still refuse would question Therefore althoGgh level obviously appreciatej another little gratitude expressed After principle accepted numerable arguments which should arise order priorities amount strings attached donor country az0unt choice distribution exercised receivi country Ultimately power hands donor always withold receiver agree conditions This tends bitterness cynicism recipients outsider little right controlling internal affairs their country Of people I talkk about their feelings towards American activities heated lucid voluble undoubtedly professionals mainly lawyers doctors academic teachers Without tding political standpoint expressed nteBse dislike combined cases Americanisation taking place making visible progress front their while impotently Amongst these people there often seems basic confusion between official activity sponsored United States Government private enterprise consequently failure distinguish political economic influences these types activity This confusion partially justifiable since official unofficial activities final control hands SUDENE Almost United States channelled through SUDENE distributed directly whilst applications rebates other advantages offered private firms setting handled The vehement feelings I expressed political The purpose United States providing political Brazilian people purely incidental One professor asserted several times Revolution organised Americans their He maintains picture American general being congratulated provoking This extremist several others means militant leftists complained Americans attempting strengthen existing military junta order continuity Brazilian politics expense social progress They admit before Revolution Americans cause extremist action since there nothing justify their support reactionary forces power Moreover after Americans carefully confidence Brazilians after Cuban episode educated upper middle classes their rising faith shattered fiasco Dominican Republic which helped their government contributing forces This action outraged scared looms consid erably larger their minds Vietnam nearer situation analogous their By putting wrong their could One highly successful lawyer friend spent attacking actions Americans country expanded exclusively political interests gifts declaring among other things priority being given roadbuilding programme prevent effective guerrilla warfare event revolution Several acquaintances including distinguished doctors North East appearance generosity programme completely false Firstly money given Brazil fraction amount taken industrial profits gifts slight atonement Americans guilt robbing Brazilians Secondly money strings attached benefits United States least recipients Far American goods bought would herwise there possibility buying better cheaper goods elsewhere The first money pumped Brazil taken discredit repayment which sense obligatory That country should conscience without interest stake questionable concept The second point perhaps foundation admitted Americans unnaturally charitable would mistakes The serious these misfires leoally widely discussed COPERBO shining surrealist factory producing synthetic rubber twenty miles South ecife A large hoarding outside proudly boasts financial received Allianee which together SUDENE responsible construction For before Revolution Celso Furtado SUDENE refused despite pressure United States interested bodies After exiled talks resumed arranged American people Tey expensive factory Why Two reasons alone should enough prevent Firstly designed produce synthetic rubber alcohol product sugar which further encourages sugar production official policy directed diversifying crops Secondly there crying labour intensive capitalimme industries COPERBO cannot former category Moreover account poisonous fumes given Qml Os changed every months local employed given permanent But disastrous these reasons recently admitted COPERBO never In early stages losses attributed teething troubles would themselves situation improve became clear profit never price alcohol enable compete other methods producing synthetic rubber To complete story visiting American sociologist recently origins The factory erected operated Illinios waste given polluted water Lakes resultant outcry forced removed The Brazilians susceptible enough expensive white elephant which costs SUDENE running succeeded polluting discolouring ruining inhabitants formerly flourishing fishing communities nearby The Brazilians justifiably indignant their precious money wasted nevertheless whatever intention fericans philanthropic otherwise Brazilians never appear blame their officials accepting It believe nothing Imaown history before arrived econo research profitability Several academics I cmplained dislike feeling Big brother watching impression Americans partly The Peace Corps especially thought closely connected State Department parttime CIA agents there considerable mistrust their motives It perhaps unfortunate highly organisedj inevitably builds impression linked government organs On occasion shortly after arrived husband introduced simply woman anthropologist immediately apoogised speaking English broke rapid Portuguese their mutual friend However latter explained Simon contra amazement arted speaking excellent English Amongst middle upper classes I frequently impression themselves closely European culture North American Many times I noticed refer Americans children naive optimists unable apreciate delicacy complication problems which faced They Americans should their house order before interfering trying other countries They especially interest racial problems United States perhaps slightly feeling their success psticular shere The situation Vietnam rarely mentioned except conjunction complaints American colonialism American policy towards Brazil Little about On whole I detected rather destructive attitude towards problem merican policy Brazil I heard reasonable alternatives United States rapid development country Students group among which I hoped fresh ideas I found singularly disappointing One student friend I suspect typical expressed irritation misplaced enthusiasm Americans mpinion simply interferin making things worse But situation apathetic extreme He thought there point individual trying improve things The magnitude problem taring school hospital would scratching surface result small would worth effort His negative solution therefore nothing waltin matters Dight themselves This would happen spontaneously population pressure further eAration living conditions resulted iarxist revulution drastic method would rssults achieved He intending anything about thought sheer neglect would bring about course I found signs social conscience among students although partly tense political situation having their names associated which already suffered Certainly common enthusiams expressed their internal politics The feelings towards Americans interior rather different especially among All peasuts I talked visionary picture United States being untold wealth everything Brazil country therefore Americans enough selves think right should their fortunate neighbours For reason receive pasively without questioning motives little gratitude The onceoeis considered especially final stages distribution foodstuffs those jeito rather those However although system often abused without doubt local basiB matter depriving rather depriving The going seriously astray I English accountant receiving vi___a thought saving master moneyP Otherwise question local schoolmistress distributing friends rather seeking poorest embers community We comadre become styled expert receiving During floods would strip clothes children volunteerswould seeing naked This process repeated success proudly maimtams consider better after floods beforehand Encouraged these intitial ventures although write signed herself night school illiterate91in order obtain being distributed pupils But readily accepted fears political motives Americans seeped through ignorant isolated TMee universal suspicion Americans exploit country numerous hidden natural resources Brazil Periodic rumours spread Americans coming coastal coconut plantations found large fishing companies which would local fishing industry One larges sugar usinas recently contracted American carry motion study factory Theeis surroune rumours which range definitely erroneous usina already bought Americans survey being carri pilot study discover whether Americans should whole antiquated sugar industry North East One American postgraduate friend doing research agricultural extension schemes interior found Imown American Brazilians became guarded their replies after while conpelled Canadian progress Several maids small shopkeepers produced soliloquies about wonderful Americans everything Auerican whilst decrying everything Brazil More stranger taking great pride broken English given eulogy things American I pointed I nerican changed started contradicting himself Amongst urban Recifemses I found considerable resentment jealousy effects rican families moving They tended congragate suburb along beach although prices aceomeation always fairly external competition pushed beyond means richest Recifenses As result become foreign colony which predominantly American blocks Please grass written English This influx wealth brought smarter though extremely expensive shops frequent cause complaint pushed price maids The Americans justification appalled wages servants putting price managed Brazilian families Members middle classes often Americans their conditioned cocoons ringling other never trying contact Brazilians interest themselves Brazil For weeks wives never leave residential suburb locally Send maids children American school The American impatient power failures fetish cleanliness I couple filtered boiled water twenty minutes before making coffee irritate Brazilians managed survive quite despite their worms But cture Not unsurprisngly Americans common fellow Americans Recif enses I several social contact local people their attempts rebuffed Feeling discouraged given There often language problems although fauuily usually taught wives slowly along oreover Recifenses invite outside their family homerme All these citicisms American activity Brazil mixed admiration aspects American which certainly field education technology seeuniversal Invit tions scholarships visit America highly coveted No ambitious academic regards training complete without visit States obtain further degree least unoffically American degrees rated highly Brazilian American academics qually admired comparatively large audiences although I detected tendency among Brazilians being patronised Americans little humility solve their problems A doctor friend referring American doctors local problemsput difficulties entailed reasonably He pointed despite indisputably superior training given members profession other countries especially States there rtain fields above relating problems tropical countries where compatriots practical FM experience worth great isolated laboratory research Out siders advise their problems themselves superior criticising existing conditions unable appreciate dlfflcultles presented local experts forestalling improvement It difficult strike happy balance between looking problem outsider therefore being bound local conceptual limitations whilst taking consideration obstacles visible those local experience problem However excusable instances plain manners shown individuals institutions A visiting American sociologist offered series lectures certain institute which gratefully accepted After these disappeared without saying farewell aving rather taste already hyper sensitive academics Another Fulbright scholars touring Brazil spent Reclfe object doing seeing sights visiting local names They systematic interviewed latter withas I little object other When pointed these people mostly tremely unperturbed moment unable Technology universally respected almost everything manufactured United States thought usually rightly superior Brazilian equivalent It American firms start competing locally I aware resent especially Americans rebates offered North East Moreover because already established reputable often easier obtain these concessions local Brazilian enterprises My feelings superimposed Americans undoubtedly doing their method approach sometimes unfortunate their suffers result An American missionary recently Tell Brazilians backward primitive They already developed Who likes whether This instance stuck because extreme aggeration falsification attitude The situation delicate dislike especially amongst intellectuals present regime close United States increase popularity either It nothing ARENA government party stand Asslm Resolvemos Entreg Americanos Thus resolved ourselves Americans Roberto Campos dynamic Minister Plann known contemptuously Cariocas Bobby Fields Yours sincerely Fanny Mitchell Received New York October