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Historical Personalities and Diplomats: San Tiago Dantas
(Rio de Janeiro 1911 - 1964)
Francisco Clementino San Tiago Dantas was a journalist, lawyer, teacher and federal deputy as well as holding office as Foreign Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer as one of the forerunners of the so-called "independent foreign policy". Being well-versed in matters of foreign policy, in 1943 he represented Brazil at the first Conference of Ministers of Education in the American Republics, in Panama. In 1951 he served as adviser to the Brazilian Delegation to the 4th Consultative Meeting of American Chief Ministers in Washington. In 1952 he became a member of the Permanent Arbitration Committee in The Hague. Between 1955 and 1958, he chaired the Inter-American Committee of Jurists, based in Rio de Janeiro. As head of the newspaper Jornal do Comércio from 1957 to 1958, he devoted his editorials - known as the "Várias" - to matters of foreign policy and in 1959 he assisted in the drafting and debating of the Santiago do Chile Declaration, one of the most important documents of the Inter-American System.
The concept he developed of an "independent foreign policy" was based on the following objectives: total involvement in ALALC and UNCTAD, with the aim of protecting the price of raw materials and participation in the growth of international trade; disarmament and more peaceful competitive coexistence as well as international economic co-operation for the development of underdeveloped nations. The basic concept was that whilst respecting the international norms of good practice, Brazil should retain the right to negotiate with all countries in accordance with its own conventions.
(Rio de Janeiro 1911 - 1964)
Francisco Clementino San Tiago Dantas was a journalist, lawyer, teacher and federal deputy as well as holding office as Foreign Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer as one of the forerunners of the so-called "independent foreign policy". Being well-versed in matters of foreign policy, in 1943 he represented Brazil at the first Conference of Ministers of Education in the American Republics, in Panama. In 1951 he served as adviser to the Brazilian Delegation to the 4th Consultative Meeting of American Chief Ministers in Washington. In 1952 he became a member of the Permanent Arbitration Committee in The Hague. Between 1955 and 1958, he chaired the Inter-American Committee of Jurists, based in Rio de Janeiro. As head of the newspaper Jornal do Comércio from 1957 to 1958, he devoted his editorials - known as the "Várias" - to matters of foreign policy and in 1959 he assisted in the drafting and debating of the Santiago do Chile Declaration, one of the most important documents of the Inter-American System.
The concept he developed of an "independent foreign policy" was based on the following objectives: total involvement in ALALC and UNCTAD, with the aim of protecting the price of raw materials and participation in the growth of international trade; disarmament and more peaceful competitive coexistence as well as international economic co-operation for the development of underdeveloped nations. The basic concept was that whilst respecting the international norms of good practice, Brazil should retain the right to negotiate with all countries in accordance with its own conventions.