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Rev. Bras. Polít. Int., 63(1): e004, 2020 Caterina Moura was also the emissary of a message from Quadros to Khrushchev. At the meeting with the prime minister, the Brazilian diplomat stated that for ‘internal reasons’ the resumption of diplomatic ties depended on ‘two conditions’: a subsequent increase in the volume of bilateral exchanges and a USSR public manifestation for the restoration of diplomatic relations with Brazil. The latter was promptly answered. The prime minister told Moura that the USSR would be ready to resume when the Brazilian government found it most convenient, and mentioned that he was ready to meet Quadros in Moscow for a visit (Caterina 2019). The first condition would gain political momentum with the arrival of Victor Azov to inaugurate and head the USSR’s commercial representation in Brazil in early July. On the 17th, a Soviet Goodwill Mission arrived in Brazil led by the Secretary of the CPSU Presidium, Mikhail P. Georgadze. High-ranking officials of Soviet cultural diplomacy were also present (Caterina 2019).

At a meeting with Quadros in Brasilia, the group talked about the possibilities of growth in bilateral cultural relations, scientific, and educational exchange. Georgadze took the opportunity to deliver a letter from Khrushchev to Quadros. The Brazilian awarded the head of the Soviet Mission with the title of Grão Oficial da Ordem do Cruzeiro do Sul (National Order of the Southern Cross). Quadros also expressed his interest, without making a formal invitation, to receive Gagarin’s visit soon. To the Soviets, the president of the Instituto Brasileiro do Café, Sergio Frazão, voiced his desire to export a new soluble coffee brand to the USSR – named Gagarin – in honor of the cosmonaut.

On July 20, Khrushchev’s letter to Quadros was published by the Brazilian press. Five days later, the president ordered the minister of Foreign Relations, Afonso Arinos, to start conversations for the reestablishment of relations with the USSR. Contacts should be initiated in Washington (Caterina 2019). On the 29th, Gagarin arrived in Brazil for a visit.

Regarding primary sources, a difficulty should be mentioned. No records of Gagarin’s visit to Brazil were found at the Russian Federation State Archive (GARF) in Moscow – despite frequent reference to his pioneer flight in various meetings. In Brazil, similarly, no textual documents were obtained at Arquivo Histórico do Ministério das Relações Exteriores (AHMRE), in Brasilia, and at Arquivo Nacional, in Rio de Janeiro. This deficiency has been reasonably addressed by the extensive Brazilian press coverage of the visit and a few U.S. documents obtained at the National Archives (NARA), in College Park. Gagarin in Brazil: reassessing the terms of the Cold War domestic political debate in 1961 4