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

811.504 Mexico/367a

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico ( Messersmith )

No. 5474

[ Washington ,] March 22, 1944.

Sir: Reference is made to the Embassy’s despatches no. 15,311 of January 13, 1944⁹² and no. 16,193 of March 1, 1944 and to the Department’s telegram no. 303 of February 12, 1944 and airgram no. A–422 of March 2, 1944⁹³ regarding the administration in 1944 of Mexican agricultural workers brought in under the agreement of August 4, 1942 as revised on April 26, 1943. The Department’s communications under reference contained assurances from the War Food Administration that the administration of Mexican agricultural workers during 1944 would be on the same basis as in 1943 in the thirteen States listed, i.e., California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

There is now enclosed for your information a copy of a letter dated March 17, 1944 from Mr. Marvin Jones,⁹⁴ War Food Administrator, in which he requests that arrangements be made with the Mexican Government to permit the Administration to carry on contracting in Mexico for the maintenance in the United States of the full quota of 75,000 workers. He reiterates his assurances that the handling of these workers will be on exactly the same basis as last year.

You are therefore requested, in your discretion, to approach the Mexican Government on the basis of Mr. Jones’ assurances and with a view to securing from that Government approval for the War Food Administration to proceed with the necessary selecting and contracting of workers to maintain a quota of 75,000 in the United States.

It is the understanding of the Department that the War Food Administration will continue to submit monthly contracting schedules to the Mexican Government through the Department and the Embassy. Five copies of the last edition of this schedule were sent to the Embassy as an enclosure to instruction no. 5340 of February 23, 1944.⁹⁵

It will be appreciated if this matter is presented to the Mexican Government on an urgent basis and a prompt report is made to the Department.⁹⁶

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:

A. A. Berle, Jr.

92. Not printed.
93. Telegram 303 and airgram A–422 not printed.
94. Letter not printed.
95. Schedule and instruction not printed.
96. In reply, the Ambassador in his despatch 16,705, March 29, 1944, informed the Secretary that the War Food Administration could proceed with recruiting for the 75,000 worker quota on the same administrative basis as in 1943 (811.504 Mexico/378).