ABSTRACT
On the eve of Pearl Harbor the United States had gone to great lengths to cement inter-American unity, particularly with regard to Argentina and Brazil. The Brazilians, by contrast, were more receptive to assuming hemispheric military responsibility but felt the threat of Argentina infinitely greater than the menace of extracontinental aggression. In a lengthy, confidential letter to Getulio, the Brazilian ambassador told of his efforts to divine Argentina's future intentions with regard to Brazil. The Argentines, who on the eve of Pearl Harbor seemed prepared to compromise their neutrality somewhat for large-scale Lend-Lease support, were to suffer a growing deterioration in their relationship with the United States. The naval attaché was equally certain that the Axis were spinning a ''web of intrigue'' between Argentina and Brazil, also alleging that a South American fifth column enjoyed Argentina's official support.
