812.659/97: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico (Messersmith)
1348. From Acheson. Your personal letter August 13, 1943.65
Full comment on developments is being withheld pending receipt of the despatch referred to66 in page 2 of your letter under reference.
If despatch referred to does not do so, please inform Department fully how the governmental commitments of the letters of President Roosevelt and Mr. Crowley are to be carried out under Tucker’s new suggestions. The Development Corporation was, of course, suggested by Tucker’s memorandum as the best method of discharging these responsibilities. The Department has recognized from the outset the political difficulties of this suggestion, but believed that the nature of the commitments made the assumption of responsibility by this Government unavoidable.
[Page 523]While Tucker will of course be permitted considerable scope for negotiations within outlines of a general plan approved by the Department, it is suggested that basic changes in the Custodian’s proposal should be referred to the Department before being presented to the Mexicans. The personal interest in this matter of the President and the importance of the over-all policies involved make it undesirable to rely on later clearance for basic issues.
The Department’s comments on Tucker’s memorandum should not be construed as a disregard of the bilateral character of the negotiations. Rather, the Department has emphasized that the proposal must recognize Mexican needs and expectations, especially in view of this Government’s prior broad commitments. [Acheson.]