740.00112A European War 1939/27952
The Ambassador in Mexico (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 1.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s despatch No. 8146 of March 11, 1943,26 concerning a conference at the Foreign Office on March 11, 1943, regarding Proclaimed List matters between officials of the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Ambassador, who was accompanied by the Counselor of Embassy for Economic Affairs and the Commercial Attaché. In the third paragraph of this despatch, reference was made among other things to a brief discussion that took place on this occasion with regard to the desire of the Ambassador to have certain information concerning the status of German firms in which the Mexican Government has intervened. The Under Secretary, Señor Torres Bodet, gave a short exposition of the Mexican viewpoint and suggested that the questions be submitted in the form of a memorandum, in order that the Foreign Office could prepare a reply giving in detail the information he gave in substance. There is now transmitted herewith for the Department’s information a copy of the Embassy’s memorandum incorporating questions as submitted by the Embassy, and also a copy of the memorandum received in reply from the Foreign Office together with an English translation thereof.27
The communication from the Foreign Office states in definite terms that the title of ownership of the intervened firms has been transferred to the Mexican Government, which has the right to administer or dispose of the properties subject to final disposition by the Congress at the termination of the state of war. During the period between intervention and final disposition of the properties by the Congress, the original owners have no title or any right to the properties, and neither the owners nor the employees removed from the companies have any connection with those companies. The compensation being paid to the original owners and employees removed from the companies is said to be a concession based upon humanitarian considerations and is being paid in monthly installments for subsistence purposes so long as the beneficiaries conduct themselves in a proper manner.
No reference has been made in the various informal conversations with the Foreign Office officials on this subject, to the status of trade marks, copyrights and patents belonging to the intervened firms. This subject will be taken up by the Embassy in order to obtain, if possible, [Page 487] the intentions of the Mexican Government with respect to this branch of property.
Respectfully yours,
Commercial Attaché