740.0011 European War 1939/31593 3/7
The Chief of the Division of the American Republics (Bonsal) to the Ambassador in Mexico (Messersmith)
Dear Mr. Ambassador: Your letter of August 31 was most helpful. As you know, the Mexican-United States Defense Commission is having a meeting in Mexico City in the very near future. Shortly following the receipt of your letter Larry20 and I ascertained that the United States section of that Commission was completely ignorant of any of the recent developments regarding the possibility of Mexican armed forces participating in combat duty. Your letter drew our attention to this lack of liaison and it has now been remedied.
I have furthermore taken the position that it would be most dangerous for the Mexicans to prepare a “formal proposal” without some guidance from us. It seems to me that we might have some kind of informal expression as to the specific ideas which the Mexicans are entertaining regarding such a proposal before we allow the matter to get into the formal stage. I understand, of course, that nothing will happen until the President of Mexico gives his consent in principle to the formulation of a proposal.
With warm regards,
Sincerely yours,
- Laurence Duggan, Adviser on Political Relations.↩