Spanish children helped by Carlos da Silveira Martins Ramos

Carlos da Silveira Martins Ramos, Brazil’s chargé d‘affaires in Barcelona provided assistance to children in nearby Arenys del Mar. Twice each week, his wife selected around one hundred children from the local schools to be invited to lunch and snacks in the gardens of their house. The photograph shows him with some of them. This humanitarian gesture made a great impact but, unfortunately, he and his wife could not answer all the requests they received each day from parents hoping their children would be included. 

As a supporter of the legal Spanish government, Martins Ramos was an exception among the Brazilian diplomats posted to Spain. He had several run-ins with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), denouncing what he called its contradictory attitudes towards the Republic.  

Martins Ramos suggested to the MRE that these meals not be private, but rather become official activities of the Brazilian embassy. He proposed the creation of a Brazilian home that would provide assistance to 200 children, on the model of the institution created by Sweden to house more than 500. Despite Martins Ramos’ vigorous advocacy, the government, which was suspicious of the Republicans and claimed that the Foreign Ministry lacked the funds, refused to make this support formal.