In accordance with this instruction, a letter was today handed to Mr.
Sierra, a copy of which is enclosed herewith. Mr. Sierra intimated that
he had expected the American Government to terminate the informal
discussions as of February first from our Memorandum handed to him on
January 21 and added that he did not consider that the termination of
the negotiations would have an important bearing on the question of
agrarian claims.
[Enclosure]
The American Ambassador (Daniels) to the Chief of the Department of Political
Affairs, Mexican Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Sierra)
Mexico, February 6, 1936.
My Dear Mr. Sierra: I have the honor to
refer to the Memorandum which I handed you on January 21, 1936, the
last paragraph of which reads as follows:
“Representatives of the American Government were sent to
Mexico City in April, 1935, and remained in Mexico for more
than four months but were unable to reach an agreement with
their Mexican colleagues. Following their departure the
negotiations were continued by the American Ambassador. Nine
months have, therefore, elapsed since the negotiations were
initiated and it seems fair to assume that this constitutes
a reasonable length of time for the drawing up of a protocol
were an agreement possible. Because of the fact that the
time within which memorials may be filed under the Protocol
of 1934 is [Page 758] fast
disappearing, the American Agent, in the event that an
agreement is not reached by February 1, 1936, will be
instructed to proceed with the filing of memorials in the
agrarian claims.”
Although my Government feels that it has gone very far in an effort
to accommodate itself to the Mexican Government’s position,
nevertheless, the informal discussions provided for in the Protocol
of 1934, which have now been carried on for more than nine months,
would seem to show that no agreement can be reached and my
Government must, therefore, regard the negotiations terminated as of
February 1 this year, the date on which the American Agent was
instructed to file memorials with the General Claims Commission. It
would seem that nine and a half months of negotiations should
provide an ample length of time for arriving at an agreement, were
an agreement possible. Memorials will, therefore, be filed in the
agrarian claims in order that the cases may be proceeded with under
the terms of the Protocol of 1934 and the Convention of 1923 as
extended.
Nevertheless, if the Mexican Government has any definite offer of
settlement to present, it will be given most careful consideration,
it being understood, however, that the termination of the “informal
discussion” provided for in the Protocol of 1934 is not deemed
affected by the presentation by the Mexican Government or
consideration by the American Government of any further proposals,
unless an agreement should happily be reached.
I cannot terminate our informal discussions without expressing my
deep regret that it has not been possible for us to reach an
agreement satisfactory to our respective Governments.
Very sincerely yours,
