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  4. Document 411

812.659/38: Telegram

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

Washington , March 24, 1943—9 p.m.

424. Embassy’s despatches no. 7700 of February 25, and no. 7803 of February 26.22 If Embassy can secure copies of Pope23 and Garfis24 reports on proposed nationalization of chemical and pharmaceutical companies, please expedite transmission to the Department.

In the meantime, you are requested to refrain from expressing approval of the American Cyanamid’s proposal25 either to American Cyanamid or to the Mexican Government. The proposal is now being studied by the Department, and the Department may wish to disapprove certain elements in the plan, or to recommend an alternative.

You are also requested to transmit to the Department any information you may have on whether the proposed plan contemplates that either Química Farmaceutica, S.A. or Ingenieros, S.A. will be granted a franchise empowering it to control all imports of chemicals, drugs, cosmetics, and allied products.

Hull
  1. Neither printed.↩
  2. Col. Frederick Pope, representative of the American Cyanamid Company.↩
  3. Presumably Valentin Garfías, of the Cities Service Company.↩
  4. A proposal to operate the pharmaceutical and drug companies inter vented by the Mexican Government because of alleged Axis associations.↩