812.628/12–2247: Airgram
The Ambassador in Mexico (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
A–1146. Referring to the Department’s telegram No. 1255 of December 11, 1947 and to the Embassy’s reply, telegram 1437 of December [Page 809] 16, 194717 regarding the raising of tuna fish taxes by the Mexican authorities, the Department is further informed that on December 18 at the request of the Under-secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs18 the Counselor of the Embassy19 called at the Foreign Office with regard to the above-mentioned matter. His memorandum in the premises reads as follows:
Señor Tello, Undersecretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, requested me to call at the Foreign Office where he received me in the presence of Mr. Sánchez Gavito.20 Señor Tello said that after my visit of last Saturday, December 13, he had investigated in the files at the Foreign Office the matter which I raised, namely, the commitment not to raise taxes on tuna fishing boats pending the negotiation of a fishery treaty between the two Governments. Señor Tello had in his hand the official file and pointed out that the commitment which was made originally when the time of the first reduction of tuna fish taxes expired was given, as he finds, temporarily, namely, until the submission of the draft of the treaty. When the draft treaty was submitted, he explained the commitment no longer existed. To this he added that he felt obliged to tell me officially that he did not know whether or not the Mexican Government was intending to raise the taxes on American tuna fishing boats.
“I said to Dr. Tello that the commitment was mentioned in the Department’s telegram21 which he will recall I read to him during last Saturday’s interview. I said that I remembered distinctly before Mr. Reveley22 left a year ago he had repeatedly mentioned the fact that the Mexican Government had agreed not to raise taxes on American tuna fishing boats or alter the status quo of our mutual fishing relations until both governments had an opportunity to negotiate a treaty. I said to Dr. Tello that I would inform the State Department of his observations with regard to the status of the commitment as it exists in the Foreign Office files but I pointed out that the American Government, as expressed in the Department’s telegram, is desirous of negotiating a fishery treaty as soon as possible; so all questions of [Page 810] interest to the two Governments can be settled and I said I was sure that the Mexican Government shared the views of the United States Government to the effect that under such circumstances it would be helpful in getting on with the negotiations not to alter conditions under which present fishing relations are carried on and that I was sure that the Foreign Office was disposed to share this view.
“Señor Tello assented in general to this but reiterated that he was obliged to tell me officially that the commitment not to raise tuna fish taxes was a temporary one.
“I reminded Señor Tello that he expected during the course of this week to advise the Embassy as to the possible date of beginning negotiations for a fishery treaty. He replied that he was leaving presently for a short vacation to be gone until the second of January and that in the meantime Señor Córdova,23 who had returned from Habana, would get in touch with me in a few days with regard to this matter which was depending upon the decision of the Foreign Minister.24 He said Señor Córdova would be able to advise the Embassy whether the Mexican Government would be able to proceed with negotiations for a fishery treaty or whether it would be delayed for some time longer.
“I gathered from the tenor of Señor Tello’s conversation that some conflict may be going on between the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Marine with regard (1) to the question of raising tuna fish taxes and (2) the date for commencement of negotiations, it having been indicated by the cautious reservations made by Señor Tello that probable some action is in the offing before the Mexicans are willing to lay their cards on the table for the negotiation of a fishery treaty.”
- Neither printed. In telegram 1255, the Department requested the Embassy’s views on new Mexican fishery laws and informed the Embassy that an instruction was en route “to reiterate to Mex (if Emb perceives no objection) this Govt’s refusal recognize justification interference by Mex with US fishing vessels outside three mile territorial waters”, and that in view of the hopes for an early reconciliation of any fisheries conflicts between the two nations by treaty, previous unwarranted vessel seizures would not be further protested at that time (812.628/12–1147). In telegram 1437, Ambassador Thurston reported: (1) No decision had been made to submit new fishery law to the Mexican Congress; (2) Question of raising tuna taxes was still pending and had been pending since last year; (3) As to renewal of conversations on the fishery treaty, the matter would be taken up with the Foreign Minister the next day on his return; and (4) presentation of note respecting US territorial-waters position might preferably wait until the Embassy had received commitment date treaty discussions from Mexico as the note might create delay in Mexico’s designating date for conference. The Department indicated approval of these suggestions in telegram 1289, December 19, 1947, 5 p.m., not printed. (812.628/12–1647)↩
- Manuel Tello.↩
- Raymond H. Geist.↩
- Vicente Sánchez Gavito, Mexican Counselor of Embassy in the United States.↩
- Reference is apparently to telegram 1255, December 11, 1947, 3 p.m., to Mexico City.↩
- Paul J. Reveley, formerly Second Secretary of Embassy and Consul in Mexico.↩
- Roberto Córdova, Mexican lawyer and diplomat.↩
- Jaime Torres Bodet.↩