812.52/2421
The Ambassador in Mexico (Daniels) to
the Secretary of State
No. 5693
Mexico, November 18, 1937.
[Received
November 22.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that Mr. Boal
had an interview at the Foreign Office on November 15, 1937, with
Licenciado Beteta.
[Page 636]
The originals of the attached memoranda on various points of interest to
the American landowners in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, were left with Mr.
Beteta.
A copy of this despatch, with enclosures, has been mailed to Vice Consul
Yepis in order that he may, in his discretion, verbally advise the
American landowners of this action on the part of the Embassy.
Mr. Boal’s conversation with Mr. Beteta is being reported in a separate
despatch.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure 1—Memorandum]
The American Embassy
to the Mexican Ministry for Foreign
Affairs
Priority for American Landowners
of Yaqui Valley in Selecting “Compensation” Lands
Since the American landowners in the Yaqui Valley made such an
important contribution to the social progress of that area through
beginning and fomenting its development, since they will be
handicapped in selling their “compensation” lands advantageously in
consequence of the comparatively limited time in which they must
dispose of the said lands and because of the limitation placed on
the marketing of these lands which cannot be sold to foreigners on
account of being within 50 kilometers of the seacoast, it is not
believed that the giving of priority to the Americans in the choice
of “compensation” lands would be otherwise than fair.
As an alternative or concomitant arrangement, it is suggested that it
may be practicable for the Mexican Government to offer to purchase
the “compensation” lands from the American landowners, or to arrange
for them if they so desire, to mortgage these properties for a
substantial part of their value.
[Enclosure 2—Memorandum]
The American Embassy
to the Mexican Ministry for Foreign
Affairs
Exemption From “4% Capital Export Tax” of American Landowners in
the Yaqui Valley
Since the agrarian affectation of their lands, a circumstance over
which they have no control, may cause a number of American citizens
in the Yaqui Valley to leave Mexico, even against their will,
[Page 637]
and will cause others to
reduce their operations and consequently their capital requirements,
it is assumed that exemption will be granted from the “4% Capital
Export Tax” on monies removed from Mexico by such American citizens,
whether the sums remitted abroad come from the payments which will
be made by the Mexican Government, or from liquidation of their
remaining land and other assets through transactions with
non-official purchasers.
[Enclosure 3—Memorandum]
The American Embassy
to the Mexican Ministry for Foreign
Affairs
Reported Failure to Respect the
Pequeña Propiedad of an American-Owned Company in the Yaqui
Valley
It is understood that the agrarian authorities have failed to respect
a pequeña propiedad of 100 hectares of
irrigated land on behalf of the American-owned Compañia Agricola
Occidental, L. C, Yaqui Valley, Sonora.
This circumstance would appear not to be consonant with paragraphs II
and IV of the Presidential Acuerdo of October 27, 1937.36
It seems particularly important that immediate steps be taken for the
delivery of the pequeña propiedad designated
by the Company.
[Enclosure 4—Memorandum]
The American Embassy
to the Mexican Ministry for Foreign
Affairs
Americans in Yaqui Valley
Experiencing Difficulty in Obtaining Data Regarding Affected and
Inaffectable Lands
A report has been received to the effect that the agrarian engineers
in the Yaqui Valley decline to furnish or even to show to American
landowners, copies of the “actas” relating to the segregation of
their lands into (1) pequeñas propiedades and
(2) lands to be affected, but on which the American owners planted
wheat and rice up to and including October 30, 1937, which they are
entitled to harvest for their own account.
Under these circumstances, it is impossible for the owners to know
what lands or crops they have left or to submit a list of the
implements they may desire to sell to the Ejidal Bank.
[Page 638]
[Enclosure 5—Memorandum]
The American Embassy
to the Mexican Ministry for Foreign
Affairs
Exemption From “4% Capital Export Tax” of American Landowners in
the Yaqui Valley
Since the agrarian affectation of their lands, a circumstance over
which they have no control, will cause a number of American citizens
in the Yaqui Valley to leave Mexico, even against their will, and
will cause others to reduce their operations and consequently their
capital requirements, it is assumed that exemption will be granted
from the “4% Capital Export Tax” on monies removed from Mexico by
such American citizens, whether the sums remitted abroad come from
the payments which will be made by the Mexican Government in
accordance with its promises, or from liquidation of their remaining
land and other assets through transactions with non-official
purchasers.
