812.113/10225: Telegram

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

218. This morning’s press publishes Presidential decree dated yesterday which is as follows in translation:

“In view of the fact that the Government of the United States of America has established a systematic embargo on merchandise acquired by various dependencies of the Federal Government, a procedure whereby serious injuries are caused in the administrative conduct of said dependencies, since even now many of the articles already bought have not been received, the Executive in my name has decided to direct, in order to avoid the inconvenience caused by this unjustified delay, that from the date of the present decree all Departments of State and Administrative Departments abstain absolutely from purchasing directly or indirectly in the said country furniture, machinery, articles of consumption and articles in general intended for the administration of the public services and that such purchases be made in all cases from commercial firms established within the national territory.

For this purpose the Department of Foreign Relations will immediately issue definite orders to the Embassy and consulates of the Republic in the United States so that they may on no account make payment in contravention of the orders herein contained and the Department of Finance and Public Credit will issue orders in the same sense to the Financial Agency of Mexico in New York.

Given in the National Palace May 30, 1927.

The President of the Republic, (signed) Plutarco Elias Calles.”

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Sheffield