810.154/641
The Ambassador in Mexico (Daniels) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 1.]
Sir: Confirming my telegram number 127 of September 25, 4 p.m.,10 in regard to the reorganization of the Inter American Highway Commission, and with reference to the Department’s instruction 470 of August 24, 1934, I have the honor to report that in a conversation this morning with the Foreign Minister, who has just returned from a ten days’ leave of absence, he told me that, after consultation with the President, he was authorized to say that the Mexican Government would prefer not to take any action on the suggestion at this time. [Page 476] Doctor Puig explained that as the project involved the expenditure of funds voted by the American Congress, he felt that this presented a question which might more suitably be left open for the administration of General Cárdenas. He added that he was informing me of the attitude of the Mexican Government informally and not in writing as he did not wish to take a public stand on the matter which might embarrass Central American countries disposed to agree to the reorganization of the Commission and to accept funds for the execution of the survey.
Apparently the position taken by the Mexican Government is in a measure attributable to national sensitiveness and not, I believe, to lack of sympathy with the proposed Inter American Highway.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩