811.504 Mexico/186
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of the American Republics (Bonsal)73
The Embassy in Mexico City was informed late yesterday afternoon that the Department authorized presentation to the Mexican Government of the War Manpower Commission’s statement of functions for a proposed joint mission to consider problems in regard to Mexican railroad workers.
The Embassy this morning reported that the Mexican Foreign Office reacted very favorably to this counter proposition, but this afternoon at three p.m. the Embassy reported by telephone that the Ministry of Labor had informed the Foreign Office by telephone that it would accept no other function for a joint commission than that of determining (a) how many and what individual Mexican railroad workers were discriminated against as to wages on the Santa Fe, (b) how long the discriminatory situation existed, and (c) how much each of those individuals was entitled to. The Labor Office said it did not insist on immediate settlement of the account, that it would have no further claims to make regarding adjustments as long as Mexican workers were not put along side of American workers who were receiving higher wages, and that no objections were made to present wage rates as determined by collective bargaining.
The attached memoranda of conversations74 give the information from the Embassy, and copies thereof have been furnished the War Manpower Commission for study and further recommendation to the Department.