852.24/109
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Mexican Affairs (Reed)
Mr. Gray69 advised me this morning that he had shown the attached memorandum70 to the Secretary and that the Secretary had directed that the matter presented by the Mexican Ambassador be discussed with Judge Moore71 and Mr. Hackworth,72 and had suggested that the reply to the Mexican Ambassador be along the following lines:
“We entertain the most friendly feelings toward the Mexican Government and are always more than willing to listen to any suggestions or requests which it may desire to make. However, in the present instance this Government adopted a definite position regarding the shipment of arms and munitions to Spain long before the Mexican Government had broached the subject to it. As that position has been given much publicity, it must be presumed to be well known, and we have no intention of departing from it.”
Note: The above statement between quotation marks was read to the Mexican Ambassador over the telephone at 10:30 a.m., September 15. The Ambassador expressed no comment thereon.