four days prior to the coup, gordon wrote central intelligence agency agents in detailing how the u.s. should help the plotters: "if our influence is to be brought to bear to help avert a major disaster here—which might make brazil the china of the 1960s—this is where both i and all my senior advisors believe our support should be placed." to assure the success of the coup, gordon recommended "that measures be taken soonest to prepare for a clandestine delivery of arms of non-us origin, to be made available to castello branco supporters in sao paulo." in a subsequent cable, declassified february 2004, gordon suggested that these weapons be "pre-positioned prior any outbreak of violence," to be used by paramilitary units and "friendly military against hostile military if necessary." to conceal the u.s. role, gordon recommended the arms be delivered via "unmarked submarine to be off-loaded at night in isolated shore spots in state of sao paulo south of santos."