812.113/9226

The Acting Secretary of State to the Mexican Ambassador (Bonillas)

The Acting Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency, the Mexican Ambassador, and, referring to his memorandum of March 18, 1919, enquiring, whether it is possible for the Government of the United States to sell to the Mexican Government rifles which were used by the American army before the war, has the honor to inform the Ambassador that the Secretary of War states that there is no authority of law for the sale of serviceable arms such as are desired by the Mexican Government, as the Act of July 9, 1919 [1918], expressly provides:

“that sales of guns and ammunition made under the authority contained in this or any other act, shall be limited to sales to other departments of the Government and to Foreign States or Governments, engaged in war against any Government with which the United States is at war …”