740.0011 Pacific War/784: Telegram

The Chargé in Mexico ( McGurk ) to the Secretary of State

730. Reference to my telegram No. 724, December 8, noon.57 We learn from a thoroughly reliable source that the Foreign Office is discussing the possibility of recommending to the Mexican Congress the breaking of diplomatic relations with Japan and declaring Mexico a non-belligerent ally of the United States. The reason for this attitude of the Foreign Office is understood to be that a declaration of war by Mexico which has not the means to wage effective warfare would subject this country to ridicule and that a declaration of nonbelligerent alliance with the United States would give the Mexican Government virtually the same power for national defense that it would have under a formal declaration of war. According to our informant all Japanese subjects will be interned and the Japanese Minister will be handed his passports.

Definite action will probably be taken tomorrow December 9.

McGurk
  1. Not printed.