612.112/68: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Mexico (Summerlin)
152. Your despatch 8374, March 521 and Department’s 147, March 15, 5 p.m. Consul at Vera Cruz telegraphs as follows.
“Under pressure of de facto authorities most all goods affected were cleared from customs and stored in private warehouses and the railway terminal properties. They have been held up over a month awaiting permission of customs authorities to ship same to owners at interior points. It is respectfully suggested that the necessary steps be taken to have instructions issued to customs authorities to release such shipments at once.”
You will bring this matter to the attention of the proper authorities and urge the immediate release of such shipments now awaiting permission of customs authorities to ship same to owners at interior points.
The Department assumes, from the assurances which have been recently received through the Mexican Chargé d’Affaires in Washington, that it is not the intention of the Mexican Government to interfere with legitimate American trade, and therefore confidently expects immediate release of all the shipments in question.
It would not be inappropriate for you to point out the extent of the material and moral assistance which this Government has rendered to the Mexican Government during the last few months. At the same time you should make it clear in no uncertain terms that this Government must insist that such restraint shall not be exercised upon legitimate American commerce.
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