Sílvio Mota, Minister of the Navy, announced his resignation, but the admiralty wanted the President to reject it. The most notable middleman in negotiations was the General Workers' Confederation (CGT), a large recent organization which existed outside of the corporatist framework. It was dominated by the ruling Labor Party and the communists.

Goulart accepted Mota's resignation and replaced him with leftist admiral Paulo Mário da Cunha Rodrigues. The sailors already wanted a new minister but Paulo Mário's name is often considered to have been chosen by the CGT negotiators. Goulart authorized him to give the mutineers an amnesty.

On the 27th of April the mutineers left on Army trucks to Army installations, free from retaliation, and then freed. They walked through the streets in celebration and carried admirals Aragão and Suzano in their arms. Army officers got to watch this from their Ministry's palace.