File No. 612.119/1183
The Ambassador in Mexico (
Fletcher) to the
Secretary of State
No. 868
Mexico,
March 27, 1918.
Sir: Referring to the recent telegrams
exchanged between the Department and the Embassy on the subject of the
suspended negotiations with the Mexican Government in regard to our
export restrictions, I have the honor to enclose copy of, my note to the
Minister for Foreign Affairs dated March 18 last. This note is in reply
to his note of the 6th instant, which was quoted in full to the
Department in my telegram No. 828, and was drafted following the lines
of the Department’s telegram No. 883 of March 15, 7 p.m.
I also enclose copy and translation of the note from the Minister for
Foreign Affairs dated March 26,1 requesting me to state the views of my Government
with regard to the general bases suggested by the Government of Mexico
for the maintenance of commercial intercourse between the two countries,
as set forth in his note of March 6.
In my telegram No. 909 of to-day’s date, I have outlined to the
Department for its approval, the reply which I propose to make.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
The American Ambassador (
Fletcher) to
the Mexican Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
(
Aguilar)
No. 273
Mexico,
March 18, 1918.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note
No. 193 of the 6th instant, informing me that the Government of
Mexico considers unacceptable the result of the conversations held
in Washington between Mr. Ignacio Bonillas, Mexican Ambassador, and
Mr. Rafael Nieto, Subsecretary of Hacienda, as commissioners of your
excellency’s Government, and the officials of my Government, which
were designed to provide for as full and free commercial intercourse
between our two countries as possible, under the existing war
conditions.
[Page 623]
I have duly noted the contents of the note under acknowledgment,
which outlines in general terms the desires of the Mexican
Government in relation to exports from the United States, and I beg
to confirm the statement made verbally to your excellency soon after
my return to Mexico, to the effect that in this as in all other
matters affecting the good and friendly relations of our two
countries your excellency may count unreservedly upon my
enthusiastic cooperation and service.
I would be very sorry to learn that the recent negotiations, which
were conducted in the most friendly spirit, should prove entirely
barren of result.
Whenever, therefore, your excellency’s Government may desire to renew
negotiations on this subject, I stand ready to communicate to my
Government any message which the Mexican Government may see fit to
give me in the premises.
Accept [etc.]
[File copy not signed]
