811.504 Mexico/72
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by Mr. W. G. MacLean of the Division of the American Republics
Mr. McGregor telephoned about 7:00 last night to state that there was much concern in Mexico City regarding the contracting of agricultural workers for the United States, because campesinos55 were leaving their properties, and because of the way applicants for contracts were piling up in Mexico City creating many housing, sanitation and other problems. He said that on August 5 the Government started to weed out from the applicants all those from the states of Michoacan, Guanajuato and Jalisco, and to send them back home (a) to reduce the problem in Mexico City, (b) to have them spread the word in those states that no more jobs were available thus discouraging further influx of workers to Mexico City and (c) to prevent crop losses from abandoned lands. (Probably 95 per cent of the experienced candidates for contracts are from those three states).
Mr. McGregor said that Mr. Brown, Chief of the Selection Station, was beginning to have his source of labor dry up.
The Ambassador called upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs and was given a memorandum in which the Mexican Government presented two alternatives:
- (a)
- The Mexican Government would return genuine campesinos to their place of resident (residence] at the risk of having them disseminate scepticism about the prospects in Mexico City.
- (b)
- The rate of contracting should be stepped up from 2500 to 6000 a week.
After studying the memorandum the Ambassador and Messrs. Brown and McGregor called on the Foreign Minister. The Ambassador [Page 568] told the Foreign Minister that we would try to settle the problem by the second alternative, duplication of the rate of recruiting. He said, however, that this involved many difficulties, one of which could be solved by placing the recruiting facilities on a two shift basis. Another major difficulty, transportation, was discussed and the Foreign Minister stated that if the recruiting were speeded up the transportation problem in Mexico could be taken care of by the Mexican Government.
In considering this problem it was also pointed out that approximately 38,000 agricultural workers have been contracted to date leaving a balance of 12,000 to be contracted during August. The Foreign Minister indicated that there would be no objection to increasing this number of workers provided the existing instructions were changed to permit the recruiting of physically capable workers but with no farm experience. With such workers made acceptable, Dr. Padilla stated that there would be no difficulty in getting more than the 50,000 workers agreed upon.
Mr. McGregor then said that it was the considered opinion there that if plan (b) were not adopted, all recruiting in Mexico City would fold up in about two weeks. He hastened to point out that this statement was in no way an ultimatum.
I asked him how long recruiting could be expected to hold up on a double shift basis. Mr. McGregor replied that if the War Food Administration would lower its requirements, an unlimited number of physically capable workers would be available and that recruiting could go on for six, eight or ten weeks or even more. He emphasized that the War Food Administration could be assured of getting good physical specimens. Mr. McGregor then again stressed the point that the Mexican Government has no desire to force this matter as an issue but was under the obligation of presenting these alternatives in order to handle a most difficult internal problem.
Mr. McGregor then informed me of the contents of the Embassy’s telegram no. 784 of August 656 which had just been filed for the Department and called particular attention to the statement therein that the 5000 workers for Texas should form a part of any stepped up recruiting program for August and that this was particularily important because of the discussions with the Governor of Texas which resulted in an understanding looking to the control and eventual wiping out of discrimination in Texas.
Mr. McGregor stated that Mr. Brown had studied the personnel needs which must be met in the event of establishing a second selecting and contracting shift. The list follows:
| 12 | Immigration inspectors. | |
| 24 | Train crew personnel. | |
| { | 1 | Public Health Officer and |
| 1 | Technician to work on X-ray only. | |
| 1 | Additional examining Public Health Officer. | |
| Mr. Fritz Openlander from the San Francisco office of the War Food Administration as Transportation Officer. | ||
| Authority to hire 50 extra local employees. | ||
Mr. McGregor then stressed the urgency of a quick reply, at least in principle, from the War Food Administration on this question and said that the Ambassador hoped to have something from us by noon today, August 7, to pass on to the Mexicans. I promised Mr. McGregor to telephone him by noon, Mexico City time, to furnish him all available information.