Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The American Republics, Volume IX

831.01/10–2645

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

[Extracts]

No. 27,034

Mexico, October 26, 1945.
[Received October 31.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Department’s circular instruction of October 25, 9 a.m., with reference to the recognition of the new government in Venezuela and instructing me to convey the substance of the telegram to the Mexican Government and to request its reply, if possible, before November 1, concerning its attitude on recognition of the new government.

Immediately on the receipt of this instruction this morning, a memorandum was prepared covering the substance of the Department’s telegram under reference and a copy of which is transmitted herewith (enclosure 1).¹⁷ I called at the Foreign Office and saw the Under Secretary, Dr. Tello,¹⁸ to whom I read the appended memorandum.

Under Secretary Tello said that he had just left the office of the Minister, Dr. Castillo Nájera, who had just received the visit of the Venezuelan Ambassador to Mexico.¹⁹ …

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

The Foreign Minister stated to the Venezuelan Ambassador that he had taken due note of the statement of the Venezuelan Government to the effect that it intended to maintain all of the inter-American and international obligations of Venezuela and had taken due note also of the desire of the Venezuelan Government to continue friendly and normal relations with Mexico. In view of these statements and conditions the Minister said to the Venezuelan Ambassador that he would be very happy to send to the Mexican Ambassador in Caracas²⁰ instructions to the effect that in accord with the Estrada Doctrine²¹ he could continue normal contact with the Venezuelan Government. The Minister, Dr. Castillo Nájera, also informed the Ambassador that he would make a statement to the press to the foregoing effect some time during the day.

Dr. Tello remarked to me that the foregoing action of the Mexican Government was not intended as any deviation from the process of consultation among the American States in matters of this kind. He said that when the Mexican Government had agreed to resolution 22, it was with the understanding that it had its own doctrine with respect to recognition known as the Estrada Doctrine. He went on to say that in view of the visit of the Venezuelan Ambassador and the situation as presented above, the Mexican Government had no re course except to indicate that it would continue normal relations with the new government, especially as it had no reason to withdraw or to interrupt such normal contact with the Venezuelan Government under the known circumstances. He was particularly emphatic in making clear that this did not indicate any deviation from the practice of Mexican collaboration in the collaborative procedure among the American States.

I thanked Dr. Tello for the information which he had given me which I said I would immediately convey to my Government, and which under the circumstances could be considered as the answer of the Mexican Government to my memorandum herewith transmitted.

I was able to communicate the substance of the foregoing to Mr. Carrigan of the Mexican Division in the Department by telephone as I wished this information to be there, and I conveyed it by telephone in order to be sure it would be in the Department before any statement is made by the Foreign Minister here to the press.

Respectfully yours,

George S. Messersmith

17. Not printed.
18. Manuel Tello.
19. José Abell Montilla.
20. Ernesto Soto Reyes.
21. Doctrine concerning recognition set forth by the Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1930. See Instituto Americano de Derecho y Legislación Comparada, La Doctrina Estrada (Mexico, 1930).