File No. 711.12/109a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico ( Fletcher)
1220. Following statement issued to the press this morning. You may make it public if you see fit.
The Department’s attention has been called to press comment published in Mexico to the effect that Ambassador Fletcher’s note of April 2, 1918,1 respecting the Mexican decree of February 19, 1918, establishing a tax on oil lands is inconsistent with the President’s address to the Mexican editors now visiting this country. The United States Government would have appreciated being asked for its consent to the publication of this note inasmuch as this procedure is usually followed in diplomatic dealings between friendly nations. Such consent would of course have been readily given if the Mexican Government had intimated that it believed the note should be published.
An examination of the note proves that all that the United States asks for its citizens who have made investments in Mexico relying on the good faith and justice of the Mexican Government and Mexican laws is justice and fair dealing. There is no disposition on the part of the United States Government to interfere in the internal affairs of Mexico. However, the seizure of property at the will of the sovereign without due legal process equitably administered and without provision for just compensation has always been regarded as a denial of justice and a cause for diplomatic representation.
The President in his speech referring to Mexico’s future said:
It must depend upon every nation that has any relations with her, and the citizens of any nation that has relations with her, keeping within the bounds of honor and fair dealing and justice, because so soon as you can admit your own capital and the capital of the world to the free use of the resources of Mexico, it will be one of the most wonderfully rich and prosperous countries in the world.
The President further pointed out that the basis for the future relations of nations was trust and said:
As long as there is suspicion there is going to be misunderstanding, and as long as there is misunderstanding there is going to be trouble. If you can once get a situation of trust, then you have got a situation of permanent peace.
The United States always desires to accord to the Mexican Government and people justice and fair dealing and it is confident that it will be accorded the same justice and the same fair dealing in return.
Note is [was here] quoted.