812.6363/1–1047
The Ambassador in Mexico (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
No. 2384
Sir: The Department’s instructions numbered 100 and 209, of July 24 and August 27, 1946,84 indicated “the Department’s interest concerning the reopening of informal negotiations with the Mexican Government in the matter of petroleum”. The latter instruction was accompanied by a memorandum on the United States Government’s policy regarding Mexican petroleum, prepared for my information and guidance in any conversations that I might initiate with the Mexican Government under the authority of the two instructions cited. It was recognized that no negotiations on this subject would be undertaken until after the inauguration of the new Government on December 1, 1946.
Immediately following Licenciado Miguel Alemán’s assumption of the Presidency on the date cited, it became apparent that the economic and other problems confronting Mexico would be attacked promptly and with energy. With respect to the petroleum industry, his appointment of Senator Antonio J. Bermúdez as Director General of “Petróleos Mexicanos”, commonly known as Pemex, was universally regarded as being most wise and as promising intelligent management of that vitally important organization and possibly its complete reorganization. Events since then seem to have justified such opinions, for Señor Bermúdez, with the strong support of President Alemán, has successfully met a challenge on the part of the petroleum workers and is known to have undertaken measures for essential exploration and drilling work. I have described these developments in informal communications addressed to Assistant Secretary of State Braden, and to Mr. Guy Ray of the Mexican Division, and to Mr. Charles Rayner, Petroleum Adviser.
In the light of these circumstances and developments, it seemed to me that it would be unwise to delay the initiation of the informal conversations to which allusion has been made. It seemed to me that further delay under these conditions might be construed as indifference, or might result in the initiation of programs or measures about which we might fail to obtain timely information and which might ultimately constitute an obstacle to negotiations or even to the return to [Page 788] Mexico of American and other foreign petroleum interests. Accordingly, some days ago I requested an audience with the Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs, Señor Jaime Torres Bodet, which took place last evening.
At this interview I informed Señor Torres Bodet of the general purport of pages one and two of the memorandum transmitted with instruction no. 209 and stated that in view of recent developments affecting Pemex, and in particular in view of reports that had reached me of contractual arrangements being concluded with American firms for certain works in Mexico under the auspices of that organization, I felt that perhaps it would be opportune for me to resume the informal conversations regarding Mexico’s petroleum industry that had been carried on by Mr. Messersmith.85 I said that if President Miguel Alemán were agreeable, I would be happy to be received by him so that we might resume such conversations on an informal basis. The Minister for Foreign Affairs said that he would convey my message to the President within the next few days and would let me know the President’s response as soon as might be possible.
Respectfully yours,
- Instruction 100 not printed; for instruction 209 and enclosure, see ibid, 1946, vol. xi, pp. 1008.↩
- George S. Messersmith, former Ambassador in Mexico.↩