Luís Martins de Souza Dantas

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Luís Martins de Souza Dantas (born February 17, 1876 in Rio de Janeiro , † April 16, 1954 in Paris ) was a Brazilian diplomat .

Life

As the Brazilian ambassador to France , Dantas rescued many of those persecuted by the Nazi regime by distributing visas during the German occupation of France. Dantas did not follow the rules set by the Brazilian government. Between June and December 1940, when Souza Dantas was banned from issuing visas, he distributed over 500 visas to those persecuted. Even after the ban, Souza Dantas continued to issue now backdated visas. On December 10, 2003, the Yad Vashem Memorial recognized him as Righteous Among the Nations .

Upon his retirement, Souza Dantas was asked to lead the Brazilian delegation to the first United Nations General Assembly . He was the first Brazilian to speak before the United Nations.

Diplomatic career

Memorial plaque to Luis Martins de Souza Dantas on his home at 45 avenue Montaigne in Paris

Luis Martins de Souza Dantas holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of São Paulo . From 1897 to 1899 he was an attaché at the embassy in Bern . From 1900 to 1902 he was second class legation secretary in Saint Petersburg , and then from 1902 to 1908 in Rome . From 1908 he was until 1913 Legation Secretary First Class in Buenos Aires , where he from 1914 temporarily d'affaires and an associate of 14 April 1915 to 21 January 1916 Minister and Minister for plénipotentiaire was. From October 7, 1917 to May 25, 1919 he was ambassador to Rome.

In 1919 de Souza Danta was Envoy Extraordinary and Ministre plénipotentiaire in Brussels from May 25 to August 14, and in 1916 he became State Secretary in the Foreign Ministry. From August 14, 1919 to December 22, 1922 he was again envoy to Rome and then from December 24, 1922 to March 10, 1943 in Paris and Vichy . From June 23 to November 15, 1916 and from May 3 to 7, 1917 he was Brazilian Foreign Minister. In 1924 and 1926 he represented the Brazilian government at the League of Nations .

He chaired the Brazilian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in Westminster Central Hall in London.

Honors

  • The library Luís Martins de Souza Dantas, which is dedicated to exile literature, was set up in the National Library of Brazil.
  • Israel issued a stamp in honor of Souza Dantas.

Rescued by Visa from Souza Dantas

literature

  • Fabio Koifman: Quixote nas Trevas. Sao Paulo 2002.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Who's Who in Latin America: Part VI, Brazil , p. 246
predecessor Office successor
Manuel Ferraz de Campos Sales Brazilian Envoy Extraordinary and Ministre plénipotentiaire in Buenos Aires
April 14, 1915 to January 21, 1916 		Eduardo Lima Ramos
Pedro de Toledo Brazilian envoy in Rome
October 7, 1917 to May 25, 1919
Mario de Pimentel Brandão Brazilian Envoy Extraordinary and Ministre plénipotentiaire in Brussels
May 25 to August 14, 1919 		Mario de Pimentel Brandão
Brazilian envoy in Rome
August 14, 1919 to December 22, 1922 		Oscar de Teffé
Carlos Taylor Brazilian envoy in Paris and Vichy
December 24, 1922 to March 10, 1943 		Vasco Tristâo Leitâo da Cunha
Venceslau Brás Brazilian Foreign Minister
June 23 to November 15, 1916 and from May 3 to 7, 1917 		Venceslau Brás
personal data
SURNAME Souza Dantas, Luís Martins de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Brazilian diplomat and Righteous Among the Nations
DATE OF BIRTH February 17, 1876
PLACE OF BIRTH Rio de Janeiro
DATE OF DEATH April 16, 1954
Place of death Paris