Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The American Republics, Volume V

411.12/2545

The Counselor of Embassy in Mexico ( Boal ) to the Chief of the Division of the American Republics ( Duggan )

Mexico , February 2, 1938.

Dear Larry: I had a talk yesterday with Beteta³² on the General Claims. We went over much the same ground as heretofore reported to the Department in this Embassy’s despatches.

Beteta explained that they had no intention or desire of departing from the terms of the Convention, but, nevertheless, they were anxious to avoid passing into a phase of negotiations for an en bloc settlement under the guns of an arbitral alternative, (my language). It appears that Cordoba,³³ who has for several years worked on the Claims Commission, is going to Washington in a few days to take up his new assignment as Legal Adviser to the Mexican Embassy there. Beteta’s feeling is if Cordoba could, in an entirely informal and personal way, in his capacity only as a member of the Mexican Embassy, discuss with some persons in the Department the outlines of an en bloc settlement, something might be arrived at which would be acceptable to both Governments, whereupon formal negotiations could be begun immediately with a view to concluding an agreement on the basis already explored. I told Beteta that I had no idea if the Department would be willing to talk to Cordoba along these lines, (even on the understanding that he was simply exploring the situation as a member of the Mexican Embassy since he no longer belonged to the Mexican Claims Commission.)

I have talked over the matter further with the Ambassador, and he feels that I should write you as I am doing in a purely personal way to get some idea of the Department’s attitude in order to be able to give Beteta some lead as to what opening there will be for an approach by Cordoba.

The Ambassador feels that this may be an opportunity to get an en bloc settlement of General Claims worked out, and that it would probably be better for us to go ahead, as suggested by Beteta, and try to reach an adjustment, always with the understanding that these were purely informal conversations, and if they did not succeed we would, of course, continue with the Treaty procedure. In other words, such discussions would have no effect whatever on the carrying out of the Treaty, or on our views regarding the matter of the undiscussed claims.

Beteta is sending us a communication on the subject of the undiscussed claims intended to defend the Mexican position in this regard, but I gather that it is primarily for the record.

Yours,

Pierre

32. Ramón Beteta, Mexican Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
33. Roberto Córdova Dosal, appointed Mexican Agent, General Claims Commission, in April 1936.