Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The American Republics, Volume VII

811.504 Mexico/322

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Mexican Affairs (McGurk)

[Extract]

[Washington,] January 27, 1944.

Participants:	The Under Secretary61
	Ambassador Messersmith
	Governor McNutt, War Manpower Commission
	Mr. Joseph Eastman, Office of Defense Transportation62
	Mr. A. W. Motley, War Manpower Commission63
	Mr. Frank Squire, Railroad Retirement Board
	Mr. J. F. McGurk, MA

Governor McNutt opened the conversation by stating that the War Manpower Commission is very anxious to raise the number of railroad workers permitted by Mexico to enter the United States, from 20,000 to 40,000 and he asked if Ambassador Messersmith would make an approach to the Mexican Government to obtain the increase. The Ambassador stated that there was considerable political influence in Mexico controlling the migration of railroad workers to this country and he felt that in view of the difficulties involved he would have to take the matter up directly himself with President Avila Camacho and Foreign Minister Padilla. He said he would be willing to do this immediately upon his return to Mexico about February 11 and and we would hear from him within a short time thereafter, perhaps by February 15. Ambassador Messersmith then stressed some considerations in this country⁶⁴ which he felt were having some adverse effect on our obtaining an increase not only in the railroad workers but also in connection with the selection of agricultural workers. He particularly mentioned pending legislation before the Congress which might possibly take out of the hands of federal agencies the management of Mexican workers while in the United States and place it in the hands of State Agencies. The Ambassador said that the Mexican Government, under our agreements covering the migration of Mexican workers, insisted upon dealing with federal agencies and that any attempt to place the administration of the Mexican workers in this country under state agencies would seriously affect our agreements.⁶⁵

Ambassador Messersmith then brought up the question of the desire of the Railroad Retirement Board to set up an office in Mexico to administer retirement payments accruing to Mexican railroad workers entering the United States. The Ambassador pointed out that the Mexican Government had no idea that the Mexican workers were to receive benefits under the Railroad Retirement Acts. He thought it would be quite impossible to defend such action should the Railroad Retirement Board insist upon carrying out its intentions. The Under Secretary and Governor McNutt pointed out that such action was mandatory under the law but effort would be made to find a solution perhaps by turning over funds due the Mexican workers to the Social Security Agency of the Mexican Government. It was agreed that Mr. Squire would present a memorandum on the subject to the Under Secretary and that the opinion of the Attorney General would be sought with respect to the operation of retirement accruals for Mexican workers under the Retirement Acts.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

J. F. McGurk

61. Edward R. Stettinius, Jr.
62. Mr. Eastman was Director of ODT.
63. Mr. Motley was Acting Director of the Bureau of Placement, WMC.
64. i.e., the United States.
65. The agreement of April 20, 1943, regarding the temporary migration of Mexican non-agricultural workers and two previous agreements respecting the temporary migration of Mexican agricultural workers. For texts of the latter two agreements effected by exchange of notes signed at Mexico City August 4, 1942, and April 26, 1943, see Department of State Executive Agreement Series Nos. 278 and 351, or 56 Stat. (pt. 2) 1759 and 57 Stat. (pt. 2) 1152, respectively.