Date: October 9, 1930
Location: Northampton, MA
Summary: Coolidge writes about a civil war in Brazil and hopes for a mediated end to the conflict.
(Original document available here)
With all the efforts that are made for peace among nations it is discouraging to see a civil war in Brazil. That country exceeds the United States in area and has a population of about forty millions, which is nearly 25 per cent more than our population when the war between the North and South came in 1861. The foreign commerce of Brazil is about $900,000,000 each year, of which more than one-third is with the United States.
While improper conduct of the government is alleged, the issues involved are obscure. They seem to be partly racial antagonisms between Anglo-Saxon and Latin groups, but fundamentally they are economic. The pressure of hard times and low prices has crystallized in revolt. It is important everywhere for a government to do its best to promote prosperity. In a country so large with population and resources so great it is possible that a long and devastating struggle is commencing. Outside interference would be a delicate matter, but if the League of Nations and other foreign countries would offer mediation and refuse to sell supplies to either party the cause of humanity would be served.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge Says: Dispatches Written by Former-President Coolidge and Syndicated to Newspapers in 1930-1931 (Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation)
The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges the volunteer efforts of Fr. Stephen Lawson who prepared this document for digital publication.