812.248/10

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico ( Sheffield )

No. 1164

Sir: The Department acknowledges the receipt of your despatch No. 3454 of December 29, 1926, stating that the newspaper Excelsior published a report on December 29, 1926, to the effect that four Douglas aeroplanes recently ordered by the Mexican Government have been received and are “now operating in the Yaqui district with excellent results”.

In reply, there is enclosed a copy of a memorandum setting forth certain information with regard to the aeroplanes in question.

I am [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:
Leland Harrison
[Enclosure]

Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Mexican Affairs (Tanis)

In a note dated October 15, 1926, the Mexican Embassy at this capital informed the Department that the Mexican Government was negotiating with the Douglas Company of Los Angeles, California, for eight aeroplanes of the type used by the United States Army. The note contained a request that the necessary permits be granted by the appropriate authorities of this Government to have these aeroplanes supplied with equipment for bombardment, photography, electrical installation, etc.

Under date of November 30, 1926, the Collector of Customs at Nogales, Arizona, telegraphed this Department64 that the Mexican Government, through the Mexican Consul at Nogales, had requested permission to export eight aeroplanes for use in the Yaqui campaign. On December 1, 1926, this Department sent the following telegram to the Collector:

“It is stated by the Mexican Embassy that eight aeroplanes with equipment which the Mexican Government desires to purchase from the Douglas Company at Los Angeles are now in the Customs at Nogales. Permits for the entry of these planes and equipment have been requested by the Mexican Embassy. Pending further consideration of this matter, you will please exercise especial diligence in order to prevent, through misunderstanding or otherwise, any possibility of these planes being flown into Mexico without especial authorization from this Department.”

In response to a telegraphic inquiry of the 24th ultimo,65 however, [Page 238] the Collector reported in a telegram of the same date65a that four aeroplanes, non-military type, were exported on November 30, by railroad, and that the whereabouts of the other four aeroplanes was not known but that they had not been offered for exportation at Nogales. The Collector has since informed the Department, under date of December 29, that the four aeroplanes in question were then being stored in a warehouse at Nogales and that he would keep them under surveillance.

Under date of December 28, 1926, the Department of State informed the Secretary of the Treasury65a that, after further consideration, it had been determined to reimpose the embargo upon aircraft of every description destined to points in Mexico without regard to the purpose for which such aircraft may be intended. At the same time the Treasury Department was requested to instruct the various collectors of customs accordingly.

R. C. T[anis]
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