740.00112A/European War 1939/33248: Airgram

The Ambassador in Mexico ( Messersmith ) to the Secretary of State

A–1541. Reference is made to Record of Action of meeting of Interdepartmental Committee on Proclaimed List held on June 16, 1943, stating that deletion of certain names listed therein and that deletion generally of names in List 254 is subject to a report from the Embassy [Page 512] that an undertaking55 has been obtained by the Mexican Government from each name indicated.

The Embassy feels that the requirement of an undertaking would be undesirable and recommends that this not be made a condition for deletion of Proclaimed List names for the following reasons:

1.
Requirement by Mexican Government of such an undertaking: would constitute official recognition by it of the Proclaimed List. It has always refused such recognition and it is believed that it will not change its attitude in this respect.
2.
An undertaking such as that requested by the Interdepartmental Committee would constitute a duplication of existing laws of Mexico which prohibit trading with enemy aliens and persons classed as such, and would place the Mexican Government in the embarrassing position of requiring it to obtain from its own citizens statements to the effect that such citizens would obey the laws of Mexico.
3.
The great majority of individuals included on List 2 are of such economic insignificance that the benefits resulting from undertakings furnished by them would be negligible. Many of the firms and individuals fisted for deletion cannot be found.
4.
The condition that undertakings be furnished as a prerequisite to deletion of Proclaimed List firms and individuals is not included in the agreement, the terms of which were submitted by the Ambassador to the Mexican Government in his memorandum of August 10, 1942. It is believed that Mexicans would take position that our Government, under terms of that agreement, is not justified in requesting undertakings.
Lastly, it is believed that to raise the issue of undertakings at this time would bring into discussion many subjects about which the Mexican Government has already indicated its disagreement and therefore the introduction of such discussions would result in disadvantages far outweighing any advantage or benefits which might be derived from the undertakings.

This matter has been fully discussed with the British Consul General in Mexico who is in complete accord with our viewpoint that these undertakings are inadvisable and unnecessary. The Embassy is asking the Foreign Office, however, for its cooperation in informing Mexican firms which have been intervened not to have any transactions with Proclaimed List firms and individuals outside of Mexico in international transactions.

Messersmith
  1. For explanation, see footnote 7, p. 476.
  2. Term applied to a formal commitment by an individual or company not to have business dealings of any character with any firm or individual on the Proclaimed List.