Office of the Historian
  1. Home
  2. Historical Documents
  3. Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The American Republics, Volume IX
  4. Document 936

812.6363/1–2645

The American Embassy in Mexico to the Mexican Ministry for Foreign Affairs 64

No. 3445

Memorandum

Careful consideration and study have been given by the highest authority of the Government of the United States to the Foreign Office’s memorandum of September 6, 1944,65 concerning a conversation between the President of the United States of America and the Secretary for Foreign Relations of Mexico in July, 1944, with respect to the timeliness and advisability of the exploration and exploitation by Mexico of its petroleum resources. The memorandum refers to the consideration of the possibility of a loan, on the part of the Government of the United States, to the Government of Mexico for the exploration and exploitation of Mexican petroleum resources.

With reference to the exploration, development and exploitation of the Mexican petroleum resources for commercial or other non-military use, the Government of the United States regrets to state that it has subsequently very carefully explored all aspects of the matter and has found that it is not in a position to consider a loan for such purposes. It does, however, appreciate the importance of this phase of the Mexican petroleum resources to the economy not only of Mexico [Page 1160] but also to that of the United States and of the hemisphere as a whole. The Government of the United States believes that, if arrangements to this end are to be consummated, they should be carried out between the Government of Mexico and private interests. Accordingly, it has requested its Ambassador in Mexico to continue to discuss with the high authorities of the Government of Mexico the participation, on an equitable and sound basis of mutual benefit to both countries, of private United States capital and technicians in the exploration, development and exploitation of the Mexican petroleum resources.

However, with full appreciation of the vital importance to continental security of there being available for mutual and continental defense oil reserves to be used in the event of military necessity, the Government of the United States is deeply interested in the development of such reserves, and would be prepared to discuss the possibility of a loan for the exploration and development of such a reserve within Mexico. Accordingly, the Government of the United States of America has authorized its Ambassador in Mexico to discuss the possibility of the development of such reserves and the financial cooperation the Government of the United States of America might extend in this respect.

México, D. F. , January 26, 1945.
  1. Copy transmitted to the Department in despatch 22,761, January 26, 1945, from Mexico City, not printed. Ambassador Messersmith reported in this despatch that he delivered this memorandum to the Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ezequiel Padilla) on the same day. The Foreign Minister told the Ambassador that they would continue conversations on the subject immediately after the close of the Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace, held at Mexico City, February 21–March 8, 1945; for documentation on this Conference, see pp. 1 ff.↩
  2. Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. vii, p. 1349.↩