Diplomacy and science in the context of World War II: Arthur Compton's 1941 trip to Brazil

TL;DR

This paper explores the diplomatic role of scientists, specifically Arthur Compton's 1941 trip to Brazil, in the context of WWII alliances and US efforts to influence Latin American countries.

Contribution

It uncovers the involvement of scientists in diplomatic efforts during WWII, highlighting the intersection of science, politics, and international relations.

Findings

Compton's trip was linked to US diplomatic efforts in Latin America.

Brazilian scientists' interest in cosmic rays was intertwined with political motives.

Science served as a diplomatic tool in WWII-era US-Latin America relations.

Abstract

Historical literature has traced US efforts to bring Latin American countries over to the side of the Allies in WWII. Following a period of hesitation and negotiation with the US and Germany, the Brazilian government aligned itself with the US. What remains virtually unknown is the involvement of scientists in these diplomatic arrangements. Recently unearthed material has shown that Arthur Compton's 1941 trip to a scientific conference on cosmic rays in Brazil was linked to efforts led by the Office for Inter-American Affairs under Nelson Rockefeller. For the Brazilian physicists, who, under the leadership of Gleb Wataghin, had excelled in this area of research during the late 1930s, science was a strong motivation for the visit; it was not, however, devoid of political connotations and professional interests.