852.24/108
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Mexican Affairs (Reed)
The Mexican Ambassador called on Mr. Reed this afternoon and said that he had just been called by telephone from Mexico City by President Cardenas. …
President Cardenas, in his conversation with Ambassador Castillo Nájera, had then adverted to the fact that some time ago his Foreign Minister, General Hay, had approached Ambassador Daniels regarding the sale by American munition firms to the Mexican Government of arms and munitions for reshipment to the Spanish Government, Ambassador Daniels having replied that, inasmuch as the Spanish Government was represented diplomatically in Washington, it seemed to him that the matter of the sale of American munitions to that Government should more properly be discussed with the American Government by the Spanish Ambassador in Washington. President Cardenas had gone on to say that the Spanish Ambassador to Mexico had now again approached him in the matter and … had asked President Cardenas to have the Mexican Government take the question up with the Government of the United States in behalf of the Government of Spain. The Mexican Ambassador, acting under the instructions of his President, therefore inquired whether the Government of the United States would permit the purchase by and shipment to the Spanish Government of munitions and arms from the United States.
Mr. Reed stated that he could not speak for the Department in this matter without having consulted his superiors; however, he was sure that the Ambassador must understand from the various statements that had been issued from the Department that the United States Government would certainly not be disposed to encourage the shipment of arms and munitions to either of the contending parties in Spain. He said that he would ascertain as soon as possible what reply could be made to the Ambassador’s inquiry but that in the meantime he would venture to suggest that the reply would be very similar to that which President Cardenas had attributed to Ambassador Daniels, namely, that the matter was one which could be properly discussed only between the Spanish Government’s diplomatic representative in Washington and the officials of the Government of the United States. …