812.001 Camacho, Manuel/250: Airgram
The Ambassador in Mexico ( Messersmith ) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 6—3 p.m.]
A–2770. With reference to the Embassy’s confidential despatch No. 14262 of November 17, 1943,31 regarding President Avila Carmacho’s speech of November 16, 1943, in regard to Mexico’s armed forces and possible participation in the war:
Questioned by reporters while visiting a dam under construction at Riego, State of Puebla, yesterday, the President is reported widely in today’s newspapers as having stated: “Up to the present time our Allies have not requested Mexican contingents to fight at the fronts of the present world conflict. But we face this eventuality. I have tried to foresee everything because we must be prepared for any contingency. If what I said in my speech is studied, pertinent deductions can be made therefrom.” While the President is quoted in slightly different terms by the various newspapers, the above, translated from El Universal, is the generally reported sense of his statement.
- Not printed.↩