Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1937, The American Republics, Volume V

711.1215 Gadsden Treaty/13

The Secretary of State to President Roosevelt

Washington, [March 11, 1937.]⁹⁴

My Dear Mr. President: The Government of Mexico has requested this Government to conclude a treaty with it providing for the abrogation of Article VIII of the Gadsden Treaty of December 30, 1853.⁹⁵

For your reference, I enclose a copy of Article VIII of the Gadsden Treaty and a translation of the new treaty proposed by the Mexican Government.

The provisions of the article in the Gadsden Treaty which it is now proposed to abrogate, I am informed, have never been operative, and the article would seem to be obsolete. Its retention is objectionable to the Mexican Government primarily because of the penultimate paragraph which provides for the transit of troops and munitions of the United States across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the Mexican Ambassador has informed me that General Cárdenas is particularly anxious to obtain a prompt consummation of the proposed treaty for domestic and political reasons.

As you will see from the translation of the proposed new treaty, which I enclose, the suggested preamble would appear to be entirely satisfactory, and the sole article other than the usual ratification article is limited to the abrogation of Article VIII of the Gadsden Treaty.

I consequently recommend your approval of the proposed treaty as suggested by the Mexican Government. My recommendation to you in this regard is concurred in by the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Commerce, whom I have consulted in this regard. May I have your instructions in the matter?⁹⁶

Believe me [etc.]

Cordell Hull

[The treaty was signed at Washington; for text, see Department of State Treaty Series No. 932, or 52 Stat. 1457.]

94. This letter was handed to the President about March 11, according to a note on the original which was undated.
95. Hunter Miller (ed.), Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America, vol. 6, p. 293.
96. This document bears the following notation in the President’s handwriting: “CH OK FDR.”