812.24/3703: Airgram

The Ambassador in Mexico (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State

A–2823. Reference Department’s airmail instruction no. 4768, November 15, 1943,14 transmitting the desire of F.E.A. to affect a rollback of the Decentralization Plan as applied to Mexico to become effective January 1, 1944. In further conferences today with Primo Villa Michel, President of the Comité Coordinador, he requested on behalf of his Government that the proposed roll-back be postponed at least until April 1, 1944, in view of the fact that all fourth quarter [Page 260] export recommendations for this year will be completed by December 11 and, also, because requests for applications for the first quarter of 1944 have already been published and the applications are now being processed by the Mexican Government. Primo Villa Michel is reluctant to release the control of the distribution contemplated by the roll-back desired by F.E.A. because he feels that the distribution of many of the products within Mexico still requires control by the Government. In addition to the reasons stated above as to why Primo Villa Michel wishes a postponement of the roll-back until at least April 1, 1944, the Embassy believes that he is requesting at least the additional quarter of 1944 in which to demonstrate that his Comité can meet its obligations with respect to the issuance of export recommendations. Under the circumstances, the Embassy very strongly recommends that the request of Primo Villa Michel be acceded to by F.E.A. Progress made by the Comité Coordinador in fulfilling its obligations will be observed very carefully by the Embassy during the next few weeks and F.E.A. will be currently advised of the Embassy’s opinion as to whether or not the Comité is capable of timely and adequately performing its functions beyond April 1, 1944. In the meantime, the Comité Coordinador is studying the list of products now under decentralization with the view of suggesting the elimination of those products in the distribution of which it has no interest. The Embassy will appreciate prompt advice as to the decision of the Department and F.E.A. concerning the postponement of the roll-back as requested by the Mexican Government.

Messersmith
  1. Not printed.