"fa
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
FOR THE PRESS MAY 12, 1939
No. 189
At the press conference at the Department of State this
morning a correspondent said that the inference has been made
that General Marshall's trip to Brazil indicates that this
Government may be considering a general military understand-
ing with Brazil for the defense of.this hemisphere in the
event of a world war. The correspondent asked whether the
Secretary cared to comment on this.    Secretary Hull said that
General Marshall's visit and the return visit of General Goes
Monteiro to this country are purely visits of courtesy. The
Secretary added that naturally, as in the case of exchanges of
visits between high civilian officials and prominent business
and professional men of the American Republics, it is hoped
that this exchange of visits between the highest ranking
military officials of our two nations will form another and
a valuable channel for the development of mutual comprehension
and understanding of our common problems.
v