852.00/5651
The Secretary of State to the Mexican Chargé (Quintanilla)
Sir: I have received your Embassy’s note No. 3984 of June 2, 1937,5 in which you inform me that the Government of Mexico “desires to contribute such means as may be within its power in order that there may be peacefully settled the grave international incident which, during recent days, has risen to complicate still further the delicate European situation.”
[Page 324]You call to the attention of the Government of the United States, by instruction of your Government, “the pleasure with which Mexico, inspired by the sincerest sentiments of humanity, would view the steps that His Excellency President Roosevelt might judge proper to take in order to invite the countries of Europe to settle peacefully this German-Spanish conflict.”
First of all I desire to express my very deep appreciation of the confidence which the friendly suggestion contained in your note indicates has been placed in my Government, and I hasten to assure you that it is my hope and desire, so far as our national policy permits, to accede to any request made by the Government of Mexico and to continue to cooperate with it in the interest of world peace.
From the outset my Government has been appalled by the distressing conflict which now rages in Spain and has been, and continues to be, desirous of lending its aid in every appropriate way toward a peaceful settlement of that tragic situation.
With regard to the international incident of the last few days which threatened grave complications, I immediately took the opportunity on behalf of this Government to express the very earnest hope to the German Ambassador and the Spanish Ambassador that their governments would find a peaceful solution of the difficulty that has arisen.
I am informed that the conflict is also receiving the earnest and urgent attention of the Non-intervention Committee at London. It is evident, therefore that steps are already being taken by the countries of Europe which are more intimately concerned with the controversy than are the countries of this Continent, to bring about a pacific solution of the difficulty which has arisen. Consequently my Government, although appreciating the high motives of the Government of Mexico in suggesting that it take some initiative in the matter, feels that the best interest of peace will be served by permitting the European countries that have the first responsibility for the maintenance of peace in Europe to continue their efforts.
My Government is deeply appreciative of the confidence which the Government of Mexico has displayed in it, in suggesting that President Roosevelt take steps looking toward the termination of the critical situation that has recently arisen in Europe, and it is more than ever gratified at the fervent desire for world peace which the Government of Mexico has expressed and which my Government earnestly shares.
Accept [etc.]