811.34512/71
The Chargé in Mexico (Schoenfeld) to
the Secretary of State
Mexico, January 26,
1925.
[Received February 4.]
No. 275
Sir: Referring further to the Department’s
instruction No. 82 of December 11, 1924, in relation to the desire for
renewal of the privilege formerly accorded by the Mexican Government to
the United States Fleet to operate from the waters of Magdalena Bay
during periods for which diplomatic arrangements would be made
beforehand in each case, I have the honor now to report the receipt of a
memorandum dated January 24, last, from the Mexican Department of
Foreign Relations, of which a copy with translation is herewith
enclosed.
I also enclose herewith a copy of the aide-memoire
left by Ambassador Sheffield with the Secretary of Foreign Relations on
December 27, last,82 in
connection with his oral representations on this subject, as reported in
his telegram No. 430 of December 31, 12 noon, 1924.82
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure—Memorandum—Translation83]
The Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Sáenz)
to the American Ambassador (Sheffield)
With reference to the aide-mémoire of December
27, last, it is stated that from 1903 to 1910, in view of the good
relations between both countries, Mexico granted to the United
States at its request permission for its naval vessels to hold
maneuvers and target practice in Magdalena Bay and for its coaling
ships to take up their station there. These facts caused the press
of Mexico, as well as of the United States and of other countries,
to publish news of a supposed cession of that bay by Mexico to the
United States. Because of this fact an agreement was reached with
the Department of State of the United States, and such news as had
given rise to unacceptable comment was corrected. Upon the
expiration of the last permission in 1910 Mr. P. C. Knox made the
statement to the Ambassador of
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Mexico that the United States did not intend
to request further permission for the reason that in the future
naval maneuvers and target practice would be held on the high
seas.
In view of the foregoing reasons and especially of the distrust which
this subject has raised whenever it is discussed, and considering,
moreover, that the good harmony and understanding which happily
exist between our two countries would be secured by avoiding a
question regarding which, however unjustifiably, there exist such
serious prejudices, Mexico would desire that the American Government
should for the present maintain the same point of view set forth in
1910 by the Secretary of State, Mr. P. C. Knox, and should continue
in its attitude of not requesting new permits for Magdalena Bay,
since such a decision would avoid all comment.
The Government of Mexico desires to state to the Government of the
United States, however, that if eventually its Navy Department
should solicit, as an exception, a permit relative to the stationing
of its fleet in Magdalena Bay for maneuvers and target practice,
Mexico would be disposed, upon previous diplomatic negotiation in
each case, to indicate the conditions under which it would grant
such a permit in accordance with Mexican laws.
Mexico, January 24,
1925.
