REPLY TO BRAZIL

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30085, 20 March 1963, Page 13

REPLY TO BRAZIL

Infiltration Charge

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) WASHINGTON, March 18.

The Brazilian Ambassador Mr Roberto Campos, said today he had received “satisfactory” clarification of a United States State Department assertion that Communists had infiltrated ' Brazil’s Government. The Ambassador called on the Acting-Secretary of State (Mr George Ball) to discuss the State Department’s position.

A House of Representatives foreign affairs sub-com-mittee issued a report on March 14 quoting the United States Ambassador to Brazil (Mr Lincoln Gordon) as saying that Communists had infiltrated the Brazilian Government. The State Department then took full responsibility for the judgment of the situation.

Mr Campos, speaking to reporters after calling on Mr Ball, denied reports that Brazil’s Finance Minister (Mr Dantas) had suspended negotiations for United States aid during his current visit to Washington. Mr Campos would not disclose what the Acting-Secre-tary of State had told him to make him feel satisfied with clarification of the Congressional reports. However, he said his meeting with Mr Ball had helped to correct some misunderstandings. Replying to questions, he said: “My Government has never admitted that there is infiltration capable of affecting in any way Brazilian policies. ...”