811.504 Mexico/200
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico (Messersmith)
Sir: Reference is made to the agreement of April 29, 1943 for the bringing in of non-agricultural workers to the United States, and to the agreement of August 4, 1942, as revised on April 26, 1943, for the bringing in of agricultural workers from Mexico. Reference is also made to censorship intercepts which have been forwarded to you from time to time, some of which made clear that Mexican workers in the United States were requesting members of their families in Mexico to write letters declaring that members of the family in Mexico were ill and that the worker in the United States should therefore return immediately. Two intercepts of this kind are transmitted herewith for your reference.83
The War Food Administration has written to the Department a letter under date of November 17, 194383 in which it is pointed out that the rapidly increasing repatriation of Mexican nationals before completion of their contracts is a matter of serious concern. The Administration points out that large numbers of workers have been using various excuses to return home before the expiration of their contracts, and then have promptly reappeared for recruitment in Mexico City for return to this country for further employment under the agricultural agreement. This practice is now apparently reaching alarming proportions, and the Department concurs with the statement of the War Food Administration that this Government cannot continue to assume the rapidly increasing costs in terms of wasted manpower, crops and travel expenses.
The communication from the War Food Administration states that many requests have also been received from workers in this country who wish to go home at their own expense for short vacation periods, after which they would return again to this country for further employment. This plan involves no direct expense for the War Food Administration, and the Administration has made arrangements with the Immigration and Naturalization Service so that the individual worker may re-enter the United States without difficulties. There is enclosed herewith for your information a copy of the War Food Administration’s letter under reference, as well as copies of its enclosures, instructions and documents for use by regional directors [Page 581] of this program in regard to vacation periods for agricultural workers.
The War Manpower Commission has apparently been making use of a similar plan in regard to Mexican maintenance of way workers under the non-agricultural agreement, according to a letter dated November 15, 1943 from the Acting Chief of the Bureau of Placement of the Commission, a copy of which is also transmitted herewith.84 However, railroad workers returning to Mexico under leaves of absence have encountered unexpected difficulties with the Mexican immigration officials, according to the War Manpower Commission. The individuals concerned have been requested to pay five pesos or to turn in their passports to Mexican immigration authorities. Some of the men have paid, but those who refused to do so have had their passports picked up.
The War Manpower Commission requests that this matter be brought to the attention of the proper officials of the Mexican Government, with a view to reaching an understanding that Mexican nationals who have been granted leaves of absence to visit their families in Mexico may return to the United States to complete their contracts without any charges being imposed by the Mexican Government for their re-entry. You are therefore authorized, in your discretion, to discuss this matter with the Mexican Foreign Office with a view to effecting the arrangement requested. It is suggested that you may wish to make this arrangement applicable to both agricultural and non-agricultural workers, although the War Food Administration has not yet reported difficulties of this kind.
You are also authorized, in your discretion, to discuss the contents of the War Food Administration’s letter of November 17, 1943 with the Mexican Foreign Office in order that it may be informed of the difficulties which have arisen and of the measures which are being taken to make it possible for the workers to visit their families for legitimate reasons without canceling their contracts and without causing unjustifiable expense to this Government.
Very truly yours,