Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The American Republics, Volume V

812.6363/6194

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of the American Republics (Duggan)

[ Washington ,] October 6, 1939.

Mr. Lancaster⁵³ stated that the Seaboard Oil Company had inquired of him whether it should continue to await the outcome of Mr. Richberg’s negotiations with the Mexican Government or whether it should undertake its own negotiations. In turn, Mr. Lancaster inquired whether I could tell him anything about the prospects of a settlement of the petroleum controversy.

I replied that I could tell him for his own confidential information that various signs pointed to the possibility of the Mexicans making some sort of a proposition within the near future.

Under the circumstances Mr. Lancaster said he would advise his clients to take no steps to initiate discussions with Mexico for the time being.

53. W. W. Lancaster of Shearman and Sterling, New York, counsel for the National City Bank.